The inner ear is the innermost part of the vertebrate ear. It is mainly responsible for sound detection and balance.[1] In mammals, it consists of two main working parts inside a bony labyrinth: [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 balance system. This has three semi-circular canals, which are set at right angles to each other.
| Inner ear | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Details | |
| Artery | labyrinthine artery |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | auris interna |
| MeSH | D007758 |
| TA | A15.3.03.001 |
| FMA | 60909 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The inner ear is found in all vertebrates, with many variations in form and function. The inner ear is supplied with the eighth cranial nerve in all vertebrates.