inner ear

noun

: the essential organ of hearing and equilibrium that is located in the temporal bone, is innervated by the auditory nerve, and includes the vestibule, the semicircular canals, and the cochlea

Examples of inner ear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The most common, otitis externa, affects the outer ear canal, while otitis media and otitis interna involve the middle and inner ear. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025

Inertial sensors, gyroscopes, and accelerometers act like an inner ear to maintain balance and orientation. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025

Vertigo or sudden loss of balance: Shapiro said this is a major cause of misdiagnosis in young women having strokes, sometimes dismissed as an inner ear issue, anxiety or dehydration. —Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025

But the structure of the bony labyrinth — a rigid area surrounding the inner ear, too small to see except with micro-CT — was a closer match to the anatomy of Neanderthals. —Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inner ear

• auctioneer
• bandelier
• belvedere
• bombardier
• brigadier
• buccaneer
• cavalier
• chandelier
• chanticleer
• chevalier
• commandeer
• disappear

Kids Definition

inner ear

noun

: the part of the ear that is most important for hearing, is located in a cavity in the temporal bone, and contains the ends of the nerves which send nerve impulses concerned with hearing and balance to the brain

Medical Definition

inner ear

noun

: the essential part of the vertebrate organ of hearing and equilibrium that typically is located in the temporal bone, is innervated by the auditory nerve, and includes the vestibule, the semicircular canals, and the cochlea

called also internal ear