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 exact reason hasn’t been discovered yet, but research has found that people going through perimenopause may experience hearing loss or changes in their hearing sensitivity due to estrogen’s impact on blood flow to the inner ear and auditory pathways. —Avital Norman Nathman, Flow Space, 10 July 2024

Vestibular stimulation involves activities that help the inner ear and brain sense movement and balance, like spinning, swinging, or jumping. —Amy Morin, Parents, 8 July 2024

Report authors said massage guns may be able to dislodge calcium structures in the inner ear, leading to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). —Korin Miller, Health, 28 June 2024

Abnormalities in the inner ear Conde-Valverde and her colleagues believe the bone belonged to a child with Down syndrome because of a series of abnormalities in the inner ear structure. —Katie Hunt, CNN, 27 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

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