DEVELOPMENT

OF
THE EAR

Department of Anatomy
Section of Embryology
AY 2008-2009
DEVELOPMENT OF THE EAR
 3 Parts of the ear and its
ANLAGE

Internal ear- otic vesicle

(ectoderm)
Middle ear- first pharyngeal pouch
(endoderm)
1st&2nd pharyngeal arches
(mesoderm)
External ear- first pharyngeal cleft
(ectoderm)
OTIC PLACODE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE OTIC
VESICLE
DIFFERENTIATION INTO DORSAL
& VENTRAL COMPARTMENT

6th wks

8th wks

7th wks
Development of Otocyst Cochlear Duct
DEVELOPMENT OF SCALA
VESTIBULI & TYMPANI
DEVELOPMENT OF THE
ORGAN OF CORTI
DEVELOPMENT OF THE
SEMICIRCULAR CANAL
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORGAN OF
CORTI & SEMICIRCULAR CANALS
INNER EAR
Oticplacode( 3rd week of life)

Auditory or otic vesicle (4th week)

Ventral Dorsal
Sacule Utricle
Cochlear duct Semicircular canals
Endolymphatic duct
 INTERNAL EAR
Cochlear Duct
Start to develop at six week until the 8th week
of life
Tubular outgrowth from lower pole of
saccule
Forms the organ of Corti
 INNER EAR
Semicircular canal
Developed at 6th week of life
Flattened outpocketings of the utricle

Sensory cells of organ of Corti , saccule,

utricle and semicircular canal- derived
from NEURAL CREST and wall of otic
vesicle forming STATOACOUSTIC
GANGLION
 CONGENITAL
DEAFNESS
Caused by:
Infections: Rubella, toxoplasmosis, Polio
Erythroblastosisfetalis
Medical Diseases:Diabetes mellitus
Hypothyroidism
Drugs: streptomycin, quanine
PHARYNGEAL CLEFTS &
POUCHES
 DEVELOPMENT OF THE
MIDDLE & EXTERNAL EAR
DEVELOPMENT OF OSSICLES
 DEVELOPMENT OF THE
MIDDLE & EXTERNAL EAR
MIDDLE EAR
1. Tympanic Cavity derived from 1st
pharyngeal pouch:
Distal part (tubotympanic recess)
becomes the tympanic
cavity
Proximal part forms the auditory
or eustachian tube
 MIDDLE EAR
2. Ossicles
Malleus and incus derived from 1st
pharyngeal arch
Stapes comes from 2nd pharyngeal arch
DEVELOPMENT OF TYMPANIC
MEMBRANE
 EXTERNAL EAR
1. External auditory meatus developed from
1st pharyngeal cleft (dorsal portion)
- meatal plug develop at bottom of
meatus at 3rd month and dissolved at 7th
month of life
EXTERNAL EAR
2. Eardrum or tympanic membrane
consist of:
*ectodermal epithelial lining-
bottom of auditory meatus
*intermediate layer of
connective tissue
*endodermal epithelial lining
of tympanic cavity
DEVELOPMENT OF AURICLE
 EXTERNAL EAR
Auricle:
Developed from 6 mesenchymal
proliferations (auricular hillocks)
surrounding the 1st pharyngeal cleft
Initial location: at lower neck
Ascend at the level of the eyes due to the
development of mandible
CONGENITAL ANOMALIES
Pre-auricular sinus
Mictotia w/ Preauricular
Sinus

Skin Tags
CONGENITAL ANOMALIES

Low-set ear Anotia

Minor anomalies of the auricle may serve as an indicator of a

specific pattern of congenital anomalies.
Ex: Abnormal shape auricle w/ low set ear indicates
chromosomal syndrome like Trisomy 18 & 21
 MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Have A
Good and
Blessed Day!