The inner ear lies deep in the petrous part of the temporal bone and contains the sensory organs of hearing and balance. It consists of a bony labyrinth filled with perilymph, inside which lies a membranous labyrinth filled with endolymph. Its three main parts are the cochlea, vestibule and semicircular canals.
| Location | Petrous part of the temporal bone, medial to the middle ear |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII) |
| Blood Supply | Labyrinthine artery (usually from the anterior inferior cerebellar artery); Stylomastoid artery |
Converts sound into nerve signals and senses rotation, linear acceleration and gravity for balance.
Inner ear disorders cause sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo. Common examples include presbycusis, noise damage, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular neuritis and Meniere disease. Aminoglycoside antibiotics and cisplatin are toxic to inner ear hair cells. The head impulse test helps separate inner ear from brain causes of acute vertigo.
Inflammation of the inner ear, usually viral, causing sudden vertigo with hearing loss and tinnitus.
Damage to the inner ear from drugs such as aminoglycosides, cisplatin or loop diuretics, causing hearing loss or imbalance.
Fractures crossing the otic capsule can destroy the inner ear, causing permanent deafness, vertigo and facial nerve injury.
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