Anatomy

Inner Ear

The essential part of the hearing organ consists of two labyrinthine compartments: the bony labyrinthine and the membranous labyrinth. The bony labyrinth is a complex of three interconnecting cavities or spaces (COCHLEA; VESTIBULAR LABYRINTH; and SEMICIRCULAR CANALS) in the TEMPORAL BONE. Within the bony labyrinth lies the membranous labyrinth which is a complex of sacs and tubules (COCHLEAR DUCT; SACCULE AND UTRICLE; and SEMICIRCULAR DUCTS) forming a continuous space enclosed by EPITHELIUM and connective tissue. These spaces are filled with LABYRINTHINE FLUIDS of various compositions.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The essential part of the hearing organ consists of two labyrinthine compartments: the bony labyrinthine and the membranous labyrinth. The bony labyrinth is a complex of three interconnecting cavities or spaces (COCHLEA; VESTIBULAR LABYRINTH; and SEMICIRCULAR CANALS) in the TEMPORAL BONE. Within the bony labyrinth lies the membranous labyrinth which is a complex of sacs and tubules (COCHLEAR DUCT; SACCULE AND UTRICLE; and SEMICIRCULAR DUCTS) forming a continuous space enclosed by EPITHELIUM and connective tissue. These spaces are filled with LABYRINTHINE FLUIDS of various compositions.

MeSH Record

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

17 entry terms
  • Ear, Inner
  • Ear, Internal
  • Labyrinth
  • Ears, Inner
  • Ears, Internal
  • Inner Ears
  • Internal Ear
  • Internal Ears
  • Labyrinths
  • Bony Labyrinth
  • Membranous Labyrinth
  • Bony Labyrinths
  • Labyrinth, Bony
  • Labyrinth, Membranous
  • Labyrinths, Bony
  • Labyrinths, Membranous
  • Membranous Labyrinths

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

24 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings abnormalities, anatomy & histology, blood supply, chemistry, cytology, diagnostic imaging, drug effects, embryology, enzymology, growth & development, immunology, injuries, innervation, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, physiopathology, radiation effects, surgery, transplantation, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

/inj: pressure-induced injuries = EAR, INNER / inj (IM) + BAROTRAUMA (IM), noise-induced injuries = HEARING LOSS, NOISE-INDUCED; inflammation = LABYRINTHITIS; neoplasms = LABYRINTH DISEASES (IM) + EAR NEOPLASMS (IM) + histological type of neoplasm (IM)

MeSH Record

History Note

2006 (1963)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. A09w.246w.300w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Inner Ear. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D007758. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D007758
  2. Inner Ear. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner_ear
  3. Inner Ear. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q212344