The Human Ear
The Ear is separated into three parts:
Outer Ear - The outer ear, made up of the pinna (made of elastic
cartilage) which directs sound waves to the auditory canal (ear canal).
These sound waves shake (vibrate) the eardrum. The eardrum
separates the outer ear from the middle ear.
Middle Ear - The middle ear is made up of the auditory ossicles
(malleus, incus, stapes). This trio of bones amplifies (makes louder) the
sound waves that arrive through the auditory canal. The last bone, the
stapes, transmits the now amplified sound waves to the inner ear.
Inner Ear - From the stapes, the now amplified sound waves reach the
inner ear, via the oval window. Near here, there exists the Eustachian
tube, which connects the middle ear to the throat, helping to balance
the air pressure on either side of the eardrum. After the oval window, a
coiled structure, called the cochlea, possesses the function of the ear.
The organ of Corti, a structure that runs through the entirety of the
cochlea, has sensory hairs, which are crucial for hearing.
The basic framework of hearing is:
1. Sound waves from the environment are directed to the eardrum,
via the auditory canal.
2. The sound waves vibrate the eardrum, which then vibrates the ear
ossicles, which amplify these vibrations.
3. The amplified vibrations leave the middle ear from the stapes, into
the inner ear via the oval window, and then into the cochlea
4. The organ of Corti, within the cochlea, contains sensory hairs
which are stimulated by these vibrations. The stimulated sensory
cells send nerve impulses to the brain, via the auditory nerve.
How the brain interprets frequency:
Different parts of the basilar membrane (the membrane in which the
sensory hairs exist) are sensitive to different frequencies of sound.
High-frequency sounds cause the base of the basilar membrane (near
the start of the cochlea) to vibrate more, while low-frequency sounds
cause the apex (the end of the cochlea) to vibrate more. The amplitude
(loudness) of sound is detected by how much the sensory hair is pulled.
Louder sounds create more nerve impulses per seconds. As the basilar
membrane vibrates, it moves the hair cells. These hair cells convert the
mechanical vibrations into electrical signals.
How are vibrations converted into nerve impulses?
Sound waves enter the cochlea through the oval window, creating
changes in the fluid inside. The organ of Corti sits inside the cochlea
and has hair cells. When the vibrations arrive, it stimulates movement
and makes the hair cells bend.
The bending of the hair cells turns the vibrations into electrical signals.
These signals travel along the auditory nerve to the brain, where they
are processed so sound can be perceived.
The Ear as an Organ of Balance:
The ear helps maintain balance using a special part called the
vestibular system, which is located in the inner ear. This system senses
the position and movement of your head and sends signals to your
brain to help stay balanced.
Semicircular canals: They are loop-shaped structures, arranged at 90
degree angles, filled with fluid, and lined with tiny hair cells (sensory
cells). When you move your head in different directions, the fluid inside
the semicircular canals moves as well. This movement causes the hair
cells to bend, which then sends signals to your brain.
Otolith organs: Besides the semicircular canals, there are two other
structures called the utricle and saccule (also known as the otolith
organs). These contain tiny crystals (made of calcium carbonate) and
hair cells.
