AP Psych Parts of the Ear

middle ear

the chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea's oval window

cochlea

a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear through which sound waves trigger nerve impulses

inner ear

the innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs

hammer

a tiny bone that passes vibrations from the eardrum to the anvil

anvil

a tiny bone that passes vibrations from the hammer to the stirrup

stirrup

a tiny U shaped bone that passes vibrations from the anvil to the cochlea

semicircular canals

three canals within the inner ear that contain specialized receptor cells that generate nerve impulses with body movement

sound waves

a longitudinal wave consisting of compressions and rarefactions, which travels through a medium

auditory canal

the area that sound waves pass through to reach the eardrum

eardrum

a thin membrane that marks the beginning of the middle ear; sound waves cause it to vibrate

auditory nerve

the nerve that carries impulses from the inner ear to the brain, resulting in the perception of sound

oval window

membrane that covers the opening between the middle ear and inner ear

outer ear

the outermost part of the ear, consisting of the pinna and the external auditory canal

pinna

the visible part of the ear

round window of ear

one of the two openings from the middle ear into the inner ear. It is sealed by the secondary tympanic membrane (round window membrane), which vibrates with opposite phase to vibrations entering the inner ear through the oval window.

Ear bones (ossicles)

malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup); smallest bones in body.