labeling the ear Quiz - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to label the parts of the ear shown in the diagram.

We’ll start from the outside (left side) and move inward toward the brain (right side).

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Step 1: Outer Ear

- The very outer part you can see — that’s the pinna or auricle. It collects sound waves.
→ So, the small box on the far left pointing to the visible ear flap = Pinna (or Auricle)

- The tube leading inward from the pinna is the ear canal (also called external auditory meatus).
→ The blue box inside the pink tube = External Auditory Canal

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Step 2: Middle Ear

After the ear canal, we hit the eardrum (tympanic membrane), but it’s not labeled here — instead, we see bones behind it.

Behind the eardrum are three tiny bones: malleus, incus, stapes. They’re often grouped as “ossicles”.

Looking at the labels already given:

- “Oval window” and “Round window” are marked — these are openings into the inner ear.
- The bone connected to the oval window is the stapes.
→ So, the box just above “Oval window” likely points to the Stapes

The other two ossicles:
- One connects to the eardrum → that’s the Malleus
- The middle one → Incus

So, working from left to right among the three little bones:

→ First bone (attached to eardrum area): Malleus
→ Middle bone: Incus
→ Last bone (touching oval window): Stapes

Now, the space where these bones sit is the middle ear cavity, which is filled with air and connected to the throat via the Eustachian tube.

→ The long tube going down to “To pharynx” = Eustachian Tube

Also, there’s a label for “Cartilage” near the ear canal — that’s supporting structure.

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Step 3: Inner Ear

Inside the bony labyrinth, we have:

- The spiral-shaped organ = Cochlea (for hearing)
- Above it, there are semicircular canals (not labeled, but sometimes included)

But looking at the boxes:

→ The big spiral thing = Cochlea

There’s also a nerve coming out of the cochlea and vestibular system — that’s the Vestibulocochlear Nerve (CN VIII), which carries sound and balance info to the brain.

Wait — the diagram already says “Facial nerve (VII)” — so the other major nerve nearby must be CN VIII.

→ The box next to Facial nerve, pointing to the bundle exiting the cochlea = Vestibulocochlear Nerve (VIII)

Also, the bony case around the inner ear is the petrous part of temporal bone — already labeled.

Now, what about the top row of red boxes?

They seem to point to structures above the middle/inner ear.

One points to the mastoid air cells — honeycomb-like spaces behind the ear.

Another might point to the semicircular canals — responsible for balance.

And another could be the vestibule — central part of inner ear connecting cochlea and semicircular canals.

Let’s assign them logically:

Top row, left to right:

→ Box over the spongy bone behind ear = Mastoid Air Cells

→ Box over the looped structures above cochlea = Semicircular Canals

→ Box over the chamber between semicircular canals and cochlea = Vestibule

Then, the box below “Petrous part...” and above cochlea — probably pointing to the vestibule again? Or maybe the facial nerve canal? But facial nerve is already labeled.

Actually, let’s recheck:

There’s a box directly above the cochlea, between petrous bone and facial nerve — that’s likely the vestibule.

And the box to the right of facial nerve, pointing to the nerve bundle leaving the inner ear — that’s definitely the vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII).

Finally, the bottom-most boxes under the cochlea — they point to muscles or tendons? Actually, those are likely the tensor tympani and stapedius muscles — but since they’re not commonly tested at basic level, and the diagram doesn’t name them, perhaps they’re meant to be ignored or are distractors.

Wait — actually, looking again:

Underneath the middle ear, there are two boxes pointing to thin lines — those are likely the chorda tympani (branch of facial nerve) and maybe the tympanic plexus, but again — too advanced.

Alternatively, they might be mislabeled or optional.

But since the question asks us to fill all blank boxes, let’s count how many blanks there are.

Counting red and blue boxes:

Total blank boxes: 10

Already labeled in diagram: Cartilage, Oval window, Round window, Petrous part..., Facial nerve (VII), Bony labyrinth..., To pharynx

So we need to label 10 things.

List of structures to label (from left to right, top to bottom):

1. Pinna/Auricle (far left small box)
2. External Auditory Canal (blue box)
3. Malleus (first ossicle)
4. Incus (second ossicle)
5. Stapes (third ossicle, attached to oval window)
6. Mastoid Air Cells (top left red box over spongy bone)
7. Semicircular Canals (top middle red box over loops)
8. Vestibule (top right red box above cochlea)
9. Cochlea (spiral structure — wait, is this labeled? No! There’s no label for cochlea yet!)
→ Actually, the box pointing to the spiral = Cochlea
10. Vestibulocochlear Nerve (VIII) (box next to facial nerve, pointing to nerve bundle)

Wait — I think I missed something.

Let me number the boxes visually:

From left to right, top to bottom:

Box A: Far left, small rectangle → Pinna
Box B: Blue box in ear canal → External Auditory Canal
Box C: Top row, first red box → Mastoid Air Cells
Box D: Top row, second red box → Semicircular Canals
Box E: Top row, third red box → Vestibule
Box F: Below Box D, pointing to first ossicle → Malleus
Box G: Below Box E, pointing to second ossicle → Incus
Box H: Below Box G, pointing to third ossicle → Stapes
Box I: Pointing to spiral → Cochlea
Box J: Right side, next to Facial nerve → Vestibulocochlear Nerve (VIII)

That’s 10 boxes.

Perfect.

Now, confirm each:

- Pinna: correct
- External Auditory Canal: correct
- Mastoid Air Cells: yes, the porous bone behind ear
- Semicircular Canals: the three loops for balance
- Vestibule: central chamber connecting canals and cochlea
- Malleus: hammer-shaped, attached to eardrum
- Incus: anvil-shaped, middle bone
- Stapes: stirrup-shaped, touches oval window
- Cochlea: snail-shell shaped, for hearing
- Vestibulocochlear Nerve (VIII): carries signals from cochlea and vestibule to brain

All match standard anatomy.

Final Answer:

Pinna (Auricle), External Auditory Canal, Mastoid Air Cells, Semicircular Canals, Vestibule, Malleus, Incus, Stapes, Cochlea, Vestibulocochlear Nerve (VIII)