parts of ear

Pinna (Outer Ear)

Visible outer structure that catches and funnels sound waves into the ear canal.

Auditory Canal

Tunnel that carries sound waves from the outer ear to the eardrum.

Eardrum (Tympanic Membrane)

Tight membrane that vibrates when hit by sound waves.

Ossicles

Three tiny bones (hammer, anvil, stirrup) that amplify sound vibrations.

Oval Window

Membrane attached to the stirrup that vibrates to pass waves into the inner ear.

Cochlea

Snail-shaped, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear that triggers neural impulses.

Basilar Membrane

Structure inside cochlea lined with hair cells (auditory receptors that convert motion into electrical signals).

Auditory Nerve

Carries neural messages from hair cells to the brain (thalamus/temporal lobe).

Semicircular Canals

Fluid-filled loops that control your vestibular sense (balance and head orientation).