4.3 ear structure

semicircular canals

three fluid-filled tubes in the inner ear that are responsible for detecting rotational head movements and maintaining balance.

cochlea

transduction of sound waves, converts sounds into electrical signals transmitted to the brain

auditory nerve

transmits electrical signals from the cochlea (inner ear) to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound.

eardrum

tympanic membrane, functions as a barrier that protects the middle ear and is crucial for hearing by vibrating when sound waves strike it.

auditory canal

channels sound waves from the outer ear to the eardrum and protects the ear by trapping debris.

pinna

outer part of the ear that gathers and funnels sound waves into the ear canal. Its unique shape also helps us determine the location of a sound,

anvil

one of three tiny bones (ossicles) in the middle ear that transmits sound vibrations from the hammer (malleus) to the stirrup (stapes), which then moves vibrations to the inner ear.

hammer

one of the three tiny bones in the middle ear, transmits sound vibrations from the eardrum to the next bone, the anvil (incus).

stirrup

transmits sound vibrations from the middle ear bones to the inner ear by pushing on the oval window of the cochlea, which causes the fluid inside to vibrate and initiate the conversion of sound into electrical signals.

hair cells

specialized sensory cells located in the cochlea, the inner ear structure responsible for hearing. They play a crucial role in converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain. 

basilar membrane

are crucial for hearing because they convert sound vibrations into electrical signals the brain can interpret.

ossicles

are three tiny bones in the middle ear that amplify and transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.