Anatomy

Ear

The hearing and equilibrium system of the body. It consists of three parts: the EXTERNAL EAR, the MIDDLE EAR, and the INNER EAR. Sound waves are transmitted through this organ where vibration is transduced to nerve signals that pass through the ACOUSTIC NERVE to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. The inner ear also contains the vestibular organ that maintains equilibrium by transducing signals to the VESTIBULAR NERVE.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The hearing and equilibrium system of the body. It consists of three parts: the EXTERNAL EAR, the MIDDLE EAR, and the INNER EAR. Sound waves are transmitted through this organ where vibration is transduced to nerve signals that pass through the ACOUSTIC NERVE to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. The inner ear also contains the vestibular organ that maintains equilibrium by transducing signals to the VESTIBULAR NERVE.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

5 entry terms
  • Vestibulocochlear Apparatus
  • Vestibulocochlear System
  • Apparatus, Vestibulocochlear
  • Ears
  • System, Vestibulocochlear

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

16 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings abnormalities, anatomy & histology, blood supply, diagnostic imaging, embryology, growth & development, injuries, innervation, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, physiopathology, radiation effects, surgery, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

general only or unspecified; prefer EAR, EXTERNAL or EAR, MIDDLE or EAR, INNER; /abnorm permitted but note EAR DEFORMITIES, ACQUIRED; /surg: consider also OTOLOGIC SURGICAL PROCEDURES; ear acupuncture or otopuncture or auriculoacupuncture (acupunct ther with ear as pressure point): index under ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY (IM) + EAR, EXTERNAL (IM)

MeSH Record

History Note

EAR, EXTERNAL, DEFORMITY was heading 1966-70

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. A01.456w.313w
  2. A09w.246w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Ear. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D004423. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D004423
  2. Ear. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear
  3. Ear. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7362