The Human Ear and Hearing

Initial experiments on the frequency sensitivity of the human ear.

Color-coded ~ three regions

How the Ear Works Part I:                                                                                                                                               Part I: Sound waves enter the ear canal and vibrate against the tympanic membrane.

How the Ear Works                                                                                                                                               Part II: Sound passes through the tympanic membrane, vibrates the tiny bones of the ear, and is translated to a nerve impulse through the cochlea. The cochleus, in turn, sends sound impulses to the temporal lobe of the brain. The ear is also responsible for the sense of balance, which occurs within the vestibular apparatus. The vestibular apparatus translates information about the body's position to the brainstem.

The physics of transmitting sound sound wave vibrations in the air into solid - bones into liquid -cochlea to the nerve #VIII to the brain

Parts and more parts…

Parts is parts… Helix - The in-curve rim of the external ear Antihelix - A landmark of the outer ear Lobule - A landmark of the outer ear. The very bottom part of the outer ear Crest of Helix - A landmark of the outer ear ExternalAuditory Meatus - or External Auditory Canal. The auditory canal is the channel through which the sounds are led from the ear outside to the middle ear.

Parts is parts… 6. Eardrum - (tympanic membrane) A thin layer of skin at the end of the external ear canal 7. Auditory Ossicles - The three small bones in the middle ear, know as the hammer (malleus), anvil (incus) and stirrup (stapes) which are connected to one another. Together these ossicles are called the ossicular chain. Their purpose is to lead the sound striking the eardrum further into the inner ear 8. Oval Window - An opening in the bone between the air filled middle ear cavity and the fluid filled inner ear, and is covered by a thin membrane

Parts is parts… 9. Cochlea - Part of the inner ear that contains part of the hearing organs. 10. Semicircular Canals - Part of the organ of balance that is part of the inner ear 11. Eighth (VIII) Nerve - Nerve that transmits messages from the inner ear to the brain. 12. Eustachian Tube - A tube connecting the middle ear cavity and the pharynx (back of the throat). It can be opened by coughing or swallowing, though it is normally closed. The occasional opening of the Eustachian tube is necessary to equalize the are in the middle ear cavity  

The middle ear

Three Bones of the Ear The ear ossicles are the smallest bones in the human body and are housed within the tympanic cavity. They are named for their distinctive shapes -- malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup). The dime placed next to them gives you a perspective of the size of the bones.

The inner ear

Cochlea

Organ of Corti

Ear Infections                                                                                                                                               Ear infections of the outer, middle, and inner ear

See the interactive ear                                                              http://www.hearingcenteronline.com The Interactive Ear The Interactive Ear