Quite often radiologists consider the anatomy of the temporal bone (t.b). as difficult. Therefore, the first part of the lecture will give a compressed presentation of radiologically relevant t.b. structures. Optimal findings require the knowledge of normal morphology. This is especially true concerning malformations, which are in the focus of the second part. Malformations are characterised by a deviation from the normal morphology combined with functional disturbance (in t.b. predominantly congenital hearing loss). They count among rare diseases. Most of them are diagnosed in early childhood, but in cases of unilateral hearing loss of lesser degree without deformed auricle the diagnosis may be delayed until adulthood. Due to different tissue of origin and different times of development, typical and less typical combinations of malformed parts of the ear result. Combined external and middle ear malformations (congenital aural atresia) are more common than combined malformations of the middle and inner ear. While in suspicion of middle ear malformations a correlate on images can be found in a high percentage, presumed inner ear malformations show a normal radiological finding in about four-fifths of the cases. Nowadays, middle ear malformations are diagnosed by CT or Cone Beam CT. Both methods can also detect most radiologically discernible inner ear malformations, but MRI delivers more details at this. The radiological appearance of malformations of the external auditory canal, middle and inner ear will be demonstrated by giving examples. Therapeutically relevant points are briefly mentioned at the end.