The Ear

• Ears

  They are organs that provide two main functions - hearing and balance, that depend on hair cells.
• Hearing


  The eardrum vibrates when soundwaves enter the ear canal. Ossicles, three tiny bones that pass vibrations to the oval window, which is a membrane at the entrance to the inner ear.
• Balance


  Balance is achieved through a combination of the sensory organ in the inner ear, visual input and information received from receptors in the body, especially around the joints , the information processed in the cerebellum.
• Outer Ear


  The ear canal is lined with hairs and glands that secrete wax. It provides protection and channels sound. The auricle or pinna is the most visible part.
• Middle Ear


  Three tiny bones - the malleus, incus and stapes - middle ear transfers sound vibrations from the ear drum to the inner ear. The middle ear is filled with numerous air spaces which provide routes for infection to travel
• Eustachian Tube

  The Eustachian tube is also located in the middle part of the ear. It equalises the air pressure between the inner and outer surfaces of the eardrum.
• Inner Ear (Labyrinth)

  The inner ear operates the body’s sense of balance and contains the healthy organ. The cochlea and the hearing organ is located inside the inner ear.
• Cochlea

  The cochlea is made up of three fluid filled chambers that spiral around a body core which contains a central channel called cochlear duct.
• Cochlear Duct


  Inside the cochlear duct is the main hearing organ: Organ of Corti.

  Hair cells inside the Organ of Corti detect sound and send the information through the cochlear nerve.