The internal ear is a complex organ responsible for hearing and balance. It is located in the temporal bone of the skull. The internal ear consists of three parts: the vestibular system, the cochlea, and the semicircular canals. The vestibular system is responsible for balance and orientation, the cochlea is responsible for hearing, and the semicircular canals detect head movements. The internal ear also contains several tiny bones called ossicles that help transmit sound waves to the cochlea.