EMBRYOLOGY: DEVELOPMENT OF THE EAR

In embryo, develops from distinct and different parts:

a) external ear – sound collection
b) middle ear – conduction of sound from external to internal ear
c) internal ear – conversion of nerve impulses into sound waves, registers changes in
equilibrium

Internal Ear
Otic Vesicles (auditory vesicles/otocysts)
- 22 days: thickening of each side of rhombencephalon surface ectoderm – called
otic placodes
- otic placodes invaginate – form otic vesicles
- each vesicle divides into
- a) ventral component – forms saccule, cochlear duct
- b) dorsal component – forms utricle, semicircular canals, endolymphatic duct
- membranous labyrinth – name given to epithelial structures

Saccule, Cochlea, Organ of Corti

- 6th week – saccule forms outpocketing at lower pole – called cochlear duct – grows
spirally into surrounding mesenchyme, completes 2.5 turns in the 8th week
- ductus reuniens – connection between the saccule and the cochlear duct
- mesenchyme around duct becomes cartilaginous, undergoes vacuolization, forms:
scala vestibuli and the scala tympani
- vestibular membrane- separates the cochlear duct from the scala vestibuli
- basilar membrane – separates the cochlear duct from the scala tympani
- spiral ligament – attaches the lateral wall of the duct to surrounding cartilage
- modiolus – at median angle, future axis of cochlea
- epithelial cells, covered by the tectorial membrane, develop into:
- a) inner ridge – future spiral limbus
- b) outer ridge
- organ of Corti – sensory cells + tectorial membrane, nerve supply: auditory fibers
of CN VIII

Utricle, Semicircular Canals

- 6th week – semicircular canals appear as flat outpocketings of (utrical part of) otic
vesicle – 3 semicircular canals arise
- crus ampullare – end of the canal that dilates
- crus nonampullare – other end of the canal that doesn’t widen
- 2 crus ampullare fuse – therefore only five crura enter the utricle: 3 with ampulla,
2 without
- crista ampullaris – crest that forms in ampullae, contains sensory cells for
equilibrium maintenance
- maculae acusticae – sensory areas that develop in walls of utricle and saccule
- nerve supply to maculae and cristae: vestibular fibers of CN VIII
- statoacoustic ganglion – small group of cells that break away from wall of otic
vesicle during development (other cells forming this are derived from neural crest)
- splits into:
- a) cochlear portion – supplies sensory cells of organ of Corti
- b) vestibular portion – supplies sensory cells of saccule, utricle,
semicicular canals

Middle Ear
Tympanic Cavity, Eustachian tube
- tympanic cavity (endodermal) – derived from 1st pharyngeal pouch
 - pouch grows laterally, comes in contact with floor of 1st pharyngeal cleft
- tubotympanic recess – distal part of the pouch, gives rise to primitive tympanic
cavity
- auditory or Eustachian tube – proximal part, channel through which tympanic
cavity communicates with nasopharynx

Ossicles
- malleus, incus – derived from 1st pharyngeal arch
- stapes – derived from 2nd pharyngeal arch
- ossicles appear during first half of fetal life, remain embedded in mesenchyme
until 8th month (mesenchyme dissolves)
- when mesenchyme dissolves, endodermal epithelium connects the ossicles to the
wall of the cavity (mesentery-like); supporting ligaments for ossicles develop in
these mesenteries
- tensor tympani – muscle to the malleus; nerve supply: mandibular branch of
trigeminal
- stapedius – attached to stapes; nerve supply: facial nerve
- tympanic antrum – dorsal expansion of tympanic cavity
- mastoid process is invaded by epithelium of tympanic cavity
- pneumatization – formation of epithelial lined air sacs in the mastoid process
- most of the mastoid air sacs come in contact with the antrum and tympanic cavity

External Ear
External Auditory Meatus
- develops from dorsal portion of 1st pharyngeal cleft
- 3rd month – epithelial cells at bottom of meatus proliferate forming a solid
epithelial plate (meatal plug)
- 7th month – plug dissolves, epithelial lining of the floor of the meatus participates
in formation of definitive eardrum
- congenital deafness – persistence of meatal plug

Eardrum/ Tympanic Membrane

- made up of:
a) ectodermal epithelial lining – bottom of auditory meatus
b) endodermal epithelial lining of tympanic cavity
c) intermediate layer of connective tissue – forms fibrous stratum
- major part of the eardrum firmly attached to handle of the malleus, remaining
portion forms separation between external auditory meatus and tympanic cavity

Auricle
- develops from 6 mesenchymal proliferations at dorsal ends of 1st and 2nd pharyngeal
arches surrounding the 1st pharyngeal cleft – called auricular hillocks
- there are 3 auricular hillocks on each side of the external meatus, which later fuse
– formation of definitive auricle
- initially, external ears found in lower neck region, after development of mandible,
they ascend to side of head at level of the eyes

CLINICAL CORRELATES
Congenital deafness – may be caused by:
a) abnormal development of membranous and bony labyrinths
b) malformations of auditory ossicles and eardrum
c) environmental factors
– Rubella virus infection at 7th to 8th week causes severe damage to organ of
Corti
-poliomyelitis, erythroblastosis fetalis, diabetes, hypothyroidism, toxoplasmosis
External Ear Defects – common, include minor and severe abnormalities
- significant because of psychological and emotional trauma they may cause, and
also often associated with other malformations

*all frequently occurring chromosomal syndromes and most of the less common ones have ear
anomalies as one of their characteristics

Preauricular appendages – skin tags anterior to ear; may be due to accessory hillocks
Preauricular pits – shallow depressions anterior to ear; represent abnormal development of the
auricular hillocks