The inner ear, also known as the labyrinth of the ear, is the part of the ear that houses the organs that control hearing and balance.

The inner ear, also known as the labyrinth of the ear, is the part of the ear that houses the organs that control hearing and balance. The vestibule, semicircular canals, and cochlea are the three sections of the bony labyrinth, a cavity in the temporal bone.

The membranous labyrinth is divided into three parts within the bony labyrinth: the semicircular ducts; two saclike structures in the vestibule, the saccule and utricle; and the cochlear duct, which is the only part of the inner ear involved in hearing.