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tympanic membrane
(tim-panŽik)
a thin, oval, semitransparent membrane that stretches across the ear canal and separates the external acoustic meatus from the tympanic cavity of the middle ear. As a first step in the process of hearing, this membrane should vibrate freely when audible sound waves travel in from the outside. The handle of the malleus is attached to the inner surface of the membrane, receives the vibrations, and transmits them down the chain of ossicles across the middle ear so that vibrations can be transmitted to the fluid of the inner ear. Called also eardrum
Tympanic membrane (membrana tympanica).
secondary tympanic membrane
the membrane enclosing the round window; called also Scarpa membrane.
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