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 scans are often used to check for aneurysms of cerebral vessels, conditions of the eye and inner ear, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord conditions, stroke, tumors and brain injury from trauma. —Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025

The cochlear implant system consists of an external speech processor, worn behind the ear, and an internal implant with components surgically placed under the skin and into the inner ear. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025

How balance becomes harder Maintaining balance looks effortless, but the brain constantly processes information from vision, the inner ear, and pressure sensors in the feet. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Nov. 2025

These findings suggest that nitric oxide deficiency in the cochlea — the part of the inner ear that converts sound vibrations into nerve signals — may be a key driver of hearing loss. —Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 22 Nov. 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