The ear

• The Sensory Systems


  The sensory systems are the parts of the body responsible for detecting sensory stimuli and transmitting signals to the brain for interpretation
• The ear


  • It is a sensitive organ of the human body
  • Its functions include detecting, transmitting and transducing sound
  • It also maintains a sense of balance
• Parts of the human ear


  • External ear
  • Middle ear
  • Internal ear
• External ear


  • Consists of the pinna, the ear canal and the outer layer of the eardrum (tympanic membrane)
  • The pinna is the visible part of the ear made of cartilage
  • The outer ear channels or transmits sound waves into the ear
  • The ear canal is filled with air and is about 2.5cm long
  • The skin surrounding the ear canal contains glands that secrete ear wax, which is part of the ear's protection mechanism
• Middle ear


  • A small air-filled space connecting the outer and inner ear
  • Its primary function is to conduct sound waves through the tympanic membrane to the cochlea via the ear bones (ossicles)
  • The 3 smallest bones in the body are in the middle ear - the hammer (malleus), anvil (incus) and stirrup (stapes)
  • The eustachian tube is also inside the middle ear and controls the pressure within the ear
• Inner ear


  • Its main functions are to convert sound waves into electrical signals for the brain and to maintain balance by detecting position and motion
  • It has 3 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 to nerve impulses that travel to the brain via the auditory nerve
  • The vestibule and semi-circular canals both help for balance
• How the ear works


  1. Sound waves are collected by the outer ear

  2. Transmitted through the middle ear

  3. Converted to electrical signals in the inner ear

  4. Signals sent to the brain via the auditory nerve
• Disorders of the ear


  • Conductive Hearing Loss
  • Sensorineural Hearing Loss
  • Mixed Hearing Loss
  • Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder
  • Gradual hearing loss
  • Deafness
• Screening and Diagnosis of Hearing Loss


  • Hearing Screening
  • Full Hearing Test
  • Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Test
  • Behavioural Audiometry Evaluation
  • Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)
  • Behavioural Audiometry Evaluation
• Treatment for Hearing Loss


  • Removing earwax
  • Surgery
  • Hearing aids
  • Cochlear implants
• You can hear sound around you by your ears ! Your ears collect sounds, process them, and send sound signals to your brain. Besides hearing your ears also help to keep you balance
• The ear is made up of three different sections: The outer ear consists of the pinna, the ear canal and the ear drum. The middle ear has ear bones. And the inner ear is made up of the cochlea and the auditory nerve. These parts all work together so you can hear sounds.