ear

The organ of hearing, which is divided into three parts: the first, the external e.. comprises the auricle with the lobe and the external auditory canal; the second, or middle e., consists of the tympanic membrane, the cavity of the tympanum, the eustachian tube, and the mastoid antrum and cells; the third, the internal e., consists of the cochlea, the semicircular canals, and the auditory nerve with its terminal expansion in the labyrinth, asylum e. See hematoma auris, under hematoma, cat's e. A defective formation of the external e. consisting in a stunting or shriveling of the cartilage, which causes the auricle to resemble somewhat the e. of a cat. e. bones. See o icula audit i, under o iculum, e. drum. See tympanum, e. sand. See otoliths, e. speculum. See under speculum, e. stones. See otoliths. e. trumpet. A tube to be held in the hand for condensing the waves of sound, so as to enable a deaf person to hear; having one end small for insertion into the external auditory meatus, and the other end flaring for collecting waves of sound. e. vertigo. See Meniere's disease, under Meniere, e. wax. See cerumen, external e. See e. flap e. A deformity of the auricle consisting in a more or le extensive development of the skin and subcutaneous fat, and sometimes of the cartilage, so that the auricle turns over and is more or le pendulous, insane e. See hematoma auris. internal e. See under e. 2. See labyrinth, middle e. See tympanum, e'- ache. See otalgia. [B. N. A., auris.] [Ang.-Sax.,