More then likely, at some point during your educational years, either in high school or college, you took a class in biology that covered human anatomy. And if you're anything like most people, you really did not pay attention.

Chances were back then, you had no idea that anatomy, especially that of the ear, would ever need to be so important to you. But in order to understand causes of ringing in the ears, you might need a refresher of basic anatomy of the ear.

One cause of ringing in the ear might be tinnitus, but tinnitus stems from different sources, and your reason for this can vary a great deal from another person.

However, it's all centralized in the ear...

Biology of the Ear

The ear is an amazing organ. It is not only responsible for hearing, but balance as well. The ear is divided into three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. While the designated names are less than creative, what they are capable of is mind-boggling.

The outer ear is the tissue that you see externally. This is what catches sound and funnels it to the more delicate parts of the structure. This is not the most common place to look for the causes in ringing the ears. For that, you need to dig deeper, so to speak.

The middle ear is what classifies the space that is located in a bone of the skull; it is air-filled. There are also three tiny bones in this space. The inner ear equalizes pressure and converts sound waves.

The inner ear is where most of the action is and includes delicate organs such as the cochlea, ear drum and Eustachian tube, to name just a few. Each has its own function, but all parts work together in harmony to create proper hearing.

Possible Causes of Tinnitus

When you are dealing with tinnitus and looking for the causes of ringing in the ears, it's important to understand that any part of the ear can be involved in the process. Because of the complicated nature of the hearing organ, any one part that malfunctions or becomes damaged can result in your suffering.

For example, if the middle ear is having trouble regulating pressure, that build up can result in hissing, buzzing or ringing when the environment is quiet around you. A damaged ear drum can cause sound to be processed incorrectly, leaving feedback in the form of tinnitus.

Because of the various parts and pieces involved in the ear, it can be extremely difficult to determine what is the exact cause for your case. This is one of the most frustrating parts of finding the causes of ringing in the ears.

Most cases of tinnitus are linked to hearing loss, which makes sense when you understand how the ear works. Another very common link with tinnitus is Meniere's disease. This disease of the inner ear affects how fluid is regulated. Patients can begin feeling symptoms as early as their twenties or as late as their fifties. Often other symptoms besides tinnitus are present, such as vertigo, a problem with balance. Meniere's is one of the common causes of ringing in the ears.

Other causes include infections, tumors, fluid buildup, exposure to loud noise and aging. In some instances, certain medications can produce side effects that are the causes of ringing in the ears.