The Basics of How Ears Work

Our ears are amazing organs that help us hear the world around us. The ear is divided into three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. Each section works together to capture sound and send it to the brain to be interpreted.

Outer Ear

The outer ear is the part that we can see and feel. It is made up of the auricle (also known as the pinna) and the ear canal. The auricle is the cartilage shaped like a funnel that is attached to the side of the head. The ear canal is the tube that leads from the auricle down to the eardrum. The ear canal helps to funnel sound waves into the ear and the auricle helps to amplify the sound.

Middle Ear

The middle ear is the area behind the eardrum. It is made up of three tiny bones called ossicles. These ossicles are the smallest bones in the body and they are also the only bones that move. The ossicles vibrate when they come into contact with sound waves, amplifying the sound waves and sending them to the inner ear.

Inner Ear

The inner ear is the most delicate part of the ear and it is filled with fluid. The fluid helps to transmit the amplified sound waves to the cochlea. The cochlea is a spiral shaped organ that contains thousands of tiny hairs. These tiny hairs help to interpret the sound waves and send the information to the brain. The brain then interprets the sound waves and we are able to understand what we hear.

Conclusion

Our ears are a complex and remarkable organ that helps us to hear. The three sections of the ear work together to capture and interpret sound so that we can understand what we hear. Without our ears, the world would be a much quieter place.