How Your Ears Work PDF
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Uploaded by ChasteSard6255
CUNY City College of New York
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Summary
This document explains the process of how the human ear works, from the outer ear collecting sound to the inner ear processing it. It details the structures of the outer, middle, and inner ear, highlighting their functions and including fun facts about sound processing and balance.
Full Transcript
## How Your Ears Work ### 1. Outer Ear (Collects Sound) The outer ear is like a funnel that collects sound from the environment and sends it towards the inside of your ear. It has two main parts: * **Pinna (Ear Flap):** * **What it does:** This is the part of your ear that you can see. It hel...
## How Your Ears Work ### 1. Outer Ear (Collects Sound) The outer ear is like a funnel that collects sound from the environment and sends it towards the inside of your ear. It has two main parts: * **Pinna (Ear Flap):** * **What it does:** This is the part of your ear that you can see. It helps capture sound and directs it into your ear canal. * **Fun Fact:** The shape of your pinna helps you hear sounds from different directions (like turning your head to listen better). * **Ear Canal:** * **What it does:** The tube that carries sound from the pinna to the eardrum. * **Fun Fact:** It's like a tunnel that funnels the sound deeper into your ear. ### 2. Middle Ear (Amplifies Sound) The middle ear helps amplify or make louder the sound that comes into your ear, so your inner ear can hear it more clearly. It contains three tiny bones (the smallest in your body) that help transfer sound vibrations to the inner ear. * **Eardrum (Tympanic Membrane):** * **What it does:** It's a thin, flexible membrane that vibrates when sound waves hit it. These vibrations move the bones in the middle ear. * **Ossicles (Tiny Bones):** * **What they do:** Three tiny bones called the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup) amplify the vibrations from the eardrum and send them to the inner ear. * **Fun Fact:** These three bones act like a little lever system to make sure the sound gets louder as it travels toward the inner ear. ### 3. Inner Ear (Processes Sound) The inner ear is where the sound is turned into electrical signals that your brain can understand. It also helps with balance! * **Cochlea:** * **What it does:** The cochlea is a spiral-shaped structure filled with fluid. Inside, there are tiny hair cells that move when sound vibrations travel through the fluid. * **Fun Fact:** The cochlea works like a little sound processor, turning vibrations into electrical signals. * **Auditory Nerve:** * **What it does:** The auditory nerve carries the electrical signals from the cochlea to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound. * **Fun Fact:** It's like the messenger that tells the brain, "Hey, here's what you're hearing!" * **Vestibular System (Balance):** * **What it does:** This system, located near the cochlea, helps you keep your balance. It detects your head's position and movement. * **Fun Fact:** It's why you can keep your balance when you move or turn your head. ### Quick Recap: * **Outer Ear:** * Pinna: Collects sound. * Ear Canal: Sends sound to the eardrum. * **Middle Ear:** * Eardrum: Vibrates with sound. * Ossicles: Amplify sound and send it to the inner ear. * **Inner Ear:** * Cochlea: Turns sound vibrations into electrical signals. * Auditory Nerve: Sends signals to the brain. * Vestibular System: Helps with balance. ### In Short: The outer ear collects sound, the middle ear amplifies it, and the inner ear processes it and sends it to the brain so you can hear!
