Eardrum

The tympanum or tympanic membrane, colloquially known as the eardrum, is a thin membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear. Its function is to transmit sound from the air to the ossicles inside the middle ear. The malleus bone connects the eardrum to the other ossicles.

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Rupture of the eardrum can occur in infection, trauma (e.g. by trying to clean the ear with sharp instruments), explosion or loud noise. This leads to conductive hearing loss.

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Membrane: A membrane is a thin, typically planar structure or material that separates two environments. Because it sits between environments or phases and has a finite volume, it can be referred to as an interphase rather than an interface. Membranes selectively control mass transport between the phases or e...

Outer ear: The outer ear has no bones. It is the external portion of the ear, which consists of the pinna, concha, and auditory meatus. It gathers sound energy and focuses it on the eardrum (tympanic membrane). One consequence of the configuration of the external ear is to selectively boost the sound pressure...

Middle ear: The middle ear is the portion of the ear internal to the eardrum, and external to the oval window of the cochlea. The mammalian middle ear contains three ossicles, which couple vibration of the eardrum into waves in the fluid and membranes of the inner ear. The hollow space of the middle ear has a...

Eardrum related Images and Photos (experimental)

Richard Wagner Splitting the Ear Drum of the World Illustration in 'L'Eclipse'