The Human Ear

The ear is the most intricate and complicated organ in the human body.  The ear of course is responsible for hearing, but also communicates critical information regarding balance to the brain.  The inner ear is completely encased within the petrous portion of the temporal bone, the hardest bone in the human body.  The temporal bone is situated on either side of the skull, and represents the most challenging three dimensional space in the human body.  A majority of the vital blood vessels and nerves traveling from the brain into the head and neck pass through or by the temporal bone.  Intimate familiarity with the structure and function of the inner ear and temporal bone is important for treating all ear related conditions. 

Additional information on the ear, hearing and balance can be found on the pages within this section.