The Ear Anatomy Quiz

The Outer Ear

• The visible part of the ear is called the pinna or auricle
• The pinna is made of cartilage
• The outer ear is responsible for transmitting sound
• It is made up of the pinna, the ear canal, and the outer layer of the eardrum (also called the tympanic membrane)
• The ear canal is filled with air and is about 2.5 cm long
• The skin surrounding the ear canal contains glands that secrete ear wax
• Ear wax is part of the ear's protection mechanism

The Middle Ear

• The middle ear is a small, air-filled space connecting the outer and inner ear
• It is responsible for conducting sound waves through the tympanic membrane to the cochlea via the ear bones
• The smallest bones in the body are in the middle ear, called the hammer (malleus), anvil (incus), and stirrup (stapes)
• These bones are collectively known as the ossicles
• Sound waves cause the ossicles to vibrate
• The eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back of the throat
• It controls the pressure within the ear

The Inner Ear

• The inner ear has two main functions: converting sound waves into electrical signals for the brain and maintaining balance by detecting position and motion
• It consists of three main parts: the cochlea, the semi-circular canals, and the vestibule
• The cochlea is filled with liquid and acts like a microphone, converting sound waves into nerve impulses that travel to the brain via the auditory nerve
• The vestibule and semi-circular canals help with balance

How Do We Hear?

• Sound waves are funneled into the ear canal by the pinna
• The sound waves make the eardrum vibrate
• The vibrations cause the three ossicles to move
• The stapes vibrates, creating wave-like movements in the fluid inside the cochlea
• These movements stimulate hair cells inside the cochlea
• The hair cells generate nerve impulses, transmitted to the auditory nerve
• The nerve impulses travel to the auditory cortex in the brain
• The auditory cortex converts the nerve impulses into the sound we hear

Test your knowledge on the anatomy of the outer and middle ear. This quiz covers key components such as the pinna, ear canal, tympanic membrane, and the ossicles. Discover how these parts work together to transmit sound effectively.