The oval window is an opening in the medial wall of the middle ear that leads into the vestibule of the inner ear. It is closed by the footplate of the stapes, held in place by the annular ligament. Movement of the footplate here transmits sound vibrations into the perilymph.
| Location | Medial wall of the middle ear, above and behind the promontory |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Tympanic plexus (CN IX) in surrounding mucosa; Facial nerve canal lies just above |
| Blood Supply | Branches of the anterior tympanic and stylomastoid arteries in the middle ear mucosa |
Transfers sound vibrations from the stapes into the perilymph of the inner ear.
The large area difference between the eardrum and the small stapes footplate concentrates sound pressure, helping overcome the air-to-fluid mismatch. In otosclerosis, new bone fixes the stapes footplate in the oval window, causing conductive hearing loss treated by stapedotomy or hearing aids. A perilymph fistula at the oval window can follow barotrauma or surgery and cause hearing loss and dizziness.
Abnormal bone remodelling around the oval window fixes the stapes footplate, causing progressive conductive hearing loss, often in young adults.
A leak of perilymph through the oval or round window after pressure trauma or surgery, causing fluctuating hearing loss and vertigo.
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