The Ear

• The ear contains the vestibulocochlear organ and consists of three main parts: external, middle, and internal.
• It has two functions, balance and hearing.

• The tympanic membrane (eardrum) separates the external ear from the middle ear.
• The auditory tube joins the middle ear or tympanic cavity to the nasopharynx.

Histology

Histology is the study of tissues.

A tissue is a group of cells with similar structure and function plus the extracellular substances located between the cells.

There are four basic types of tissues:

- Epitheliums

- Connective tissue

- Muscle tissue

- Nervous tissue

The Auditory Ossicles

The Malleus

• Its superior part, the head, lies in the epitympanic recess.
• The head articulates with the incus.

• The neck, lies against the flaccid part of the tympanic membrane.
• The chorda tympani nerve crosses the medial surface of the neck of the malleus.

• The handle of the malleus (L. hammer) is embedded in the tympanic membrane and moves with it.
• The tendon of the tensor tympani muscle inserts into the handle.

The Incus

• Its large body lies in the epitympanic recess where it articulates with the head of the malleus.
• The long process of the incus (L. an anvil) articulates with the stapes.
• The short process is connected by a ligament to the posterior wall of the tympanic cavity.

The Stapes

• The base (footplate) of the stapes (L. a stirrup), the smallest ossicle, fits into the fenestra vestibuli or oval window on the medial wall of the tympanic cavity.

Functions of the Auditory Ossicles

• The auditory ossicles increase the force but decrease the amplitude of the vibrations transmitted from the tympanic membrane.

MUSCLE

Types:

Skeletal (voluntary)
Cardiac (involuntary)
Smooth (involuntary)

The Scalp

• The scalp consists of five layers of soft tissue.
• It extends from the superior nuchal line on the posterior aspect of the skull of the supraorbital margins.
• Laterally, the scalp extends into the temporal fossa to the level of the zygomatic arches.

Layers of the Scalp

• The scalp proper is composed of three fused layers. It is separated from the pericranium by loose connective tissue.
• Because of this potential areolar cleavage plane, the scalp is fairly mobile.
• Each letter of the word "S C A L P" serves as a memory key for one of the layers of the scalp: Skin, Connective Tissue, Aponeurosis Epicranialis, Loose Areolar Tissue and Pericranium.

Layer 1: Skin

• Hair covers the scalp in most people.
• The skin of the scalp is thin, especially in elderly people, except in the occipital region.
• The skin contains many sweat and sebaceous glands and hair follicles.
• The skin of the scalp has an abundant arterial supply and good venous and lymphatic drainage systems.

Layer 2: Connective Tissue

• This is a thick, subcutaneous layer of connective tissue and is richly vascularised and innervated.
• It attaches the skin to the third layer of the scalp.
• Fat is enclosed in lobules between the connective fibres.

Layer 3: Aponeurosis Epicranialis

• This is a strong membranous sheet that covers the superior aspect of the cranium.
• This aponeurosis is the membranous tendon of the fleshy bellies of the epicranius muscle.

• The epicranius muscle consists of four parts: two occipital bellies, occipitalis and two frontal bellies, frontalis that are connected by the epicranial aponeurosis. 

Layer 4: Loose Areolar Tissue

• This is a subaponeurotic layer or areolar or loose connective tissue.
• It is somewhat like a sponge because it contains innumerable potential spaces that are capable of being distended by fluid.
• It is this layer that allows free movement of the scalp proper, composed of layers 1-3.

Layer 5: Pericranium

• This is a dense layer of specialised connective tissue.
• The pericranium is firmly attached to the bones by connective tissue fibres called Sharpey’s fibres, however, they can be fairly easily stripped from the cranial bones of living persons, except where they are continuous with the fibrous tissues of the cranial sutures.