How do we hear?
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Hearing mechanism - in order from outer to inner ear
Outer Ear - Made up of Pinna, External Auditory Membrane, and Eardrum. It is an air filled space.
The video below may clarify the ear and the mechanism within
Outer Ear - Made up of Pinna, External Auditory Membrane, and Eardrum. It is an air filled space.
- Pinna is also known as the auricle and is the part of the ear that captures sound waves as acoustic energy.
- External Auditory Membrane is also known as External Auditory Meatus
- Eardrum is also known as the Tympanic Membrane, and is the gateway to the middle ear
- 3 ossicles are tiny bones known as the Malleus, Incus, and Stapes, also known as the Hammer, Anvil, and Stirrup.
- The Eustation Tube controls air pressure in the middle ear and can sometimes be clogged by sinus drainage.
- Oval Window is the gateway between the middle and inner ear and connected to the 3 ossicles. It vibrates from sound waves.
- Cochlea - the main organ involved in hearing. It contains cilia which are tiny hairs which transmit electrical impulses through the auditory nerve which directly connects to the brain.
- Semi-circular Canals main function is to control balance. They are fluid filled canals that may be affected when an individuals has an ear infection
The video below may clarify the ear and the mechanism within
Flow of Sound through the Ear
Sound begins as sound waves made up of acoustic energy. This acoustic energy enters the outer ear and travels to the eardrum, where it is then changed to mechanical energy within the Middle Ear. The sound continues toward the Inner Ear where it is finally transformed into electrical energy. This last transformation takes place within the cochlea and then is transferred as electrical impulses into the brain and translated.