Ear

pinna structure

outer, funnel like

pinna function

collect and funnel sound waves into the ear canal, amplify them slightly and help with sound localization

external auditory meatus structure

tube connecting the outer ear to the eardrum, 2.5cm long

external auditory meatus function

channels sound waves to the eardrum and protects the eardrum from damage

tympanic membrane structure

a thin tissue that separates the outer ear from the middle ear

tympanic membrane function

transmit soundwaves from outer ear to middle ear by vibrating when struck by sound waves

semicircular canals structure

three fluid filled loops in the inner ear, each oriented on a different plane that sense rotational head movements

semicircular canals function

detect rotational head movements to help maintain balance and spatial orientation

auditory nerve structure

composed of 30,000 fibers that begin at the spiral ganglia

auditory nerve function

transmit electrical signals from the inner ears cochlea to the brain where they are interpreted as sound, balance, and sound localization

cochlea structure

a coiled, snail shaped tube in the inner ear, divided into 3 parallel, fluid filled chambers

cochlea function

to convert sound waves into electrical signals that the brain can interpret as sound

auditory ossicles structure

3 small bones

auditory ossicles function

transmit and amplify sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear