Ear System Austin Johnson P.1

Special Senses-Ears The Ear system contains the organs that allow humans to detect sound. The Ear system is made up of the Outer Ear, Middle Ear, and the Inner Ear.

How does the system work?

Diagram

Ear Vocabulary auditory canal Channel that leads from outside the ear to the eardrum. auditory meatus Another name for auditory canal auditory nerve fibers Sends signals from the inner ear to the brain auditory tube Channel between the middle ear and the nasopharynx. auricle Flap of the ear, or the outside part of the external ear. cerumen Ear wax cochlea Snail shaped receptor in the inner ear endolymph Inner ear fluid eustachian tube another name for Auditory tube. incus Second (bone) in the middle ear. incus means anvil. labyrinth system of canals of the inner ear. Named because it is maze like

Ear Vocab cont. malleus First bone in the middle ear. malleus means hammer. organ of Corti very Sensitive receptor in the cochlea of the inner ear. ossicle Very small bone in the ear. Stapes, Incus and Malleus are ossicles. oval window Membrane between the middle ear and inner ear. perilymph Fluid in the labyrinth. pinna Another name for auricle semicircular canals Passages in inner ear that maintaining equilibrium (or balance). Also called labyrinth stapes Third bone in the middle ear. tympanic membrane Eardrum. Membrane between outer and the middle ear. vestibule Central cavity of labyrinth, connecting semicircular canals and cochlea.

Teen Diseases/Injuries Trauma: A fall or a forceful blow to the side of the head can rupture the eardrum or damage the tiny bones in the inner ear that send sound to the brain. the eardrumbrain Noise: Loud noises, explosions, loud machinery, or gunshots. Most common problems in teenagers are hearing loss due to loud music. This is called acoustic loss. It happens because the eardrum is damaged.

Other Diseases/Injuries Hearing Loss is a common problem as people get older. It can be for many reasons. Hereditary problems Buildup of Earwax Exposure to loud noise over time Skin reactions in and around the ear Diseases such as Méniére’s disease or acoustic neuroma.

Keep the System Healthy Ear protection: when doing loud activities (shooting, using heavy machinery) wear ear protection like earplugs. Prevention is the best cure. Don’t use Q-tips! Q-tips are bad for your ears, especially when used incorrectly. They can damage your middle and inner ear. Only use them to clean your outer ears and be very gentle.

Interaction with other Systems The labyrinth (or semicircular canals) in the ear contains fluid, which rolls around and affects cells which tells us our sense of balance and which direction we may be tilting or leaning. This is called maintaining equilibrium. This operation coordinates with our Visual System and helps tell our brain whether or not we are standing up straight or at an angle. This operation also coordinates with our Muscular System by automatically adjusting our balance to make sure we are operating correctly. Finally, our auditory nerve fibers are special nerve cells. These cells are part of the Nervous System and send the signals of what we hear to our brain.

Trivia Questions

What are the three small bones in your ear called? A. Hammer, Nail, and Ossicle bones B. Socket, Holster, and Signal bones C. Hammer, Anvil, and Stirrup bones D. Ossicle, Balcius, and Andin bones

What are the three small bones in your ear called? C. Hammer, Anvil, and Stirrup bones

What is the name of the outer flap that we commonly call the ear? A. Auricle B. Ear Flap C. Pinna D. Auditory Chamber

What is the name of the outer flap that we commonly call the ear? A. Auricle

What is another name for the labyrinth? A. Maze B. Cochlea C. Pinna D. Semicircular canals

What is another name for the labyrinth? D. Semicircular canals

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