The ear is a very sophisticated organ, which is made up of a number of important structures. The ear is made up of three parts; these are:
- The inner ear
- The outer ear
- The middle ear
Hearing and audiology is based solely on physical movement, rather than chemical reactions.
The structure of the ear
Sound enters the ear through the outer ear and travels down the ear canal into the eardrum; the sound starts to vibrate once it enters into the middle ear. The middle ear is a cavity, which is filled with air; the middle ear is connected to the inner ear. The inner ear contains the cochlea, which is a fluid-filled, spiral shaped structure and the vestibular system, which helps to control balance.
Hearing
Sounds enter the ear via the outer ear and are gathered by the eardrum (also known as the tympanic membrane). The eardrum passes the sounds down the ear canal into the ossicles, which are the smallest bones in the body (these are called the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil) and stapes (stirrup); the waves are then diverted to the cochlea. The cochlea is divided into three different fluid-filled chambers, which are receptive to different sound frequencies. The sound signal is then converted into an electrical impulse, which travels to the cochlear and vestibular nerves. The electrical impulses are interpreted as sounds in the auditory cortex of the temporal lobes in the brain.
Hearing may be affected if there is a problem with the function or structure of component parts on the ear. If there is blockage or the ear is infected, for example, the ear may not work in the normal way and the individual’s hearing will not be as good as usual. You can find out more about hearing from a specialist in audiology.
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