Inner ear

The inner ear (internal ear, auris interna) is the innermost part of the vertebrate ear. In vertebrates, the inner ear is mainly responsible for sound detection and balance.[1] In mammals, it consists of the bony labyrinth, a hollow cavity in the temporal bone of the skull with a system of passages comprising two main functional parts:[2]

• The cochlea, dedicated to hearing; converting sound pressure patterns from the outer ear into electrochemical impulses which are passed on to the brain via the auditory nerve.
• The vestibular system, dedicated to balance

Quick facts: Inner ear, Details, Artery, Identifiers, Lati... ▼

Inner ear
Details
Artery	labyrinthine artery
Identifiers
Latin	auris interna
MeSH	D007758
TA98	A15.3.03.001
TA2	6935
FMA	60909
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

This article is one of a series documenting the anatomy of the
Human ear
Outer ear Auricle Ear canal
Middle ear Tympanic membrane Ossicles Malleus Incus Stapes
Inner ear Vestibules Utricle Saccule Cochlea Semicircular canals
v t e

The inner ear is found in all vertebrates, with substantial variations in form and function. The inner ear is innervated by the eighth cranial nerve in all vertebrates.