Sense of Hearing & Balance (The Ear)

Pinna (Ear Lobe)

The outer ear structure that funnels sound waves into the auditory canal.

Auditory Canal

The tube through which sound waves travel from the pinna to the eardrum.

Eardrum (Tympanic Membrane)

A thin membrane that vibrates in response to sound waves.

Ossicles

Three tiny bones in the middle ear (Malleus / Hammer, Incus / Anvil, Stapes / Stirrup) that amplify sound vibrations.

Cochlea

A liquid-filled structure in the inner ear with hair cells that convert liquid movement into electrical impulses.

Auditory Nerve

Carries electrical sound impulses from the hair cells in the cochlea to the temporal lobe of the brain.

Semi-circular Canals

Structures in the inner ear that control balance.

Eustachian Tube

Connects the middle ear to the throat to equalize air pressure on both sides of the eardrum.

Deafness

Loss of hearing, most commonly sensory hearing loss due to damage between the cochlea and the brain.