Editing Middle ear (section)

{{Short description|Portion of the ear}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox anatomy
| Name        = Middle ear
| Latin       = auris media
| Image       = Blausen 0330 EarAnatomy MiddleEar.png
| Caption     = A diagram of the anatomy of the middle ear
| Precursor   =
| System      =
| Artery      =
| Vein        =
| Nerve       = [[Glossopharyngeal nerve]]
| Lymph       =
}}
{{Ear series|expanded=Middle}}
The '''middle ear''' is the portion of the [[ear]] medial to the [[eardrum]], and distal to the [[oval window]] of the cochlea (of the [[inner ear]]).  

The mammalian middle ear contains three [[ossicles]] (malleus, incus, and stapes), which transfer the vibrations of the eardrum into waves in the fluid and membranes of the [[inner ear]].  The hollow space of the middle ear is also known as the [[tympanic cavity]] and is surrounded by the [[tympanic part of the temporal bone]]. The [[auditory tube]] (also known as the Eustachian tube or the pharyngotympanic tube) joins the tympanic cavity with the nasal cavity ([[nasopharynx]]), allowing pressure to equalize between the middle ear and throat.

The primary function of the middle ear is to efficiently transfer acoustic energy from [[compression wave]]s in air to fluid–membrane waves within the [[cochlea]].