What is sound?

Sound is a form of energy that moves through air, water

and matter, in waves of pressure. While the ear
recognizes sound it is the brain and central nervous
system that hears. The ear and the brain work together.
The ear changes sound pressure waves from the outside
world into signals of nerve impulses which are then sent
to the brain.

What is an ear made up of?

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Outer ear: The visible external ear is called the pinna or
auricle. This is the part of the ear that humans
sometimes ornament with jewellery.
The outer ear also contains the ear canal and the ear
drum (tympanic membrane).

The middle ear: is the area behind the ear drum. This
part of the ear is made of three movable bones
called ossicles. The function of these three bones is to
convert the sound wave (by striking the eardrum) into
mechanical vibrations. These three bones are absolutely
tiny and are the smallest bones in the body!
The hammer (Malleaus) joins the inside of the
eardrum.
The anvil (Incus) connects to the hammer and the
stirrup.
The stirrup (Staples) fills the oval window (membrane
covered outlets) which leads to the inner ear.

The inner ear

Cochlea is a snail-shell like structure divided into three

fluid-filled parts.
Cilia Microscopic hair-like structures.
Eustachian Tube This tube equalises air pressure. It
also connects the middle ear to the throat and this is
where most ear infections happen. This tube is normally
collapsed but it opens up when we are swallowing food
or with any pressure, such as taking off in an aeroplane,
giving the sensation of popping.

How do we hear?
The outer part of the ear collects sound waves. Humans
can hear sound waves with frequencies between 20 and
20,000 Hz. That sound pressure is amplied through the
middle portion of the ear.

In simple language these sound waves cause the

eardrum to vibrate. The three middle ear bones
(Malleaus, Incus, Staples or easier to remember
Hammer, Anvil and Stirrup) pass these vibrations on to
the cochlea. The cochlea is a snail-shaped, fluid-filled
structure in the inner ear. Inside the cochlea is another
structure called the organ of corti. Cilia are very tiny hair
cells which are located in the corti. These cilia
(microscopic hair cells) bend over from the vibrations
(sound waves) passing a nerve impulse to the auditory
nerve. These impulses are then sent to the brain and this
is how we hear sounds.

Why do we get dizzy when

we spin around?

When you spin around too fast, fluid in the circular canals
(cochlea) moves around the ear. This stimulates the hair
cells. When you stop spinning the fluid still moves.
Because the moving fluid is still stimulating the hair cells
your brain gets a message that you are still moving and
so you feel dizzy.

Why are ears so important

to us?
The ability to hear and balance is very important to all
living

creatures.

For

humans hearing is

also

an important part of learning speech and language so we

can communicate with each other. So, we must protect
our hearing.
Exposure to loud noise, whether instant or prolonged,
can cause damage to these hair cells as they become

brittle and dont bounce back into shape. When this

happens

we

get

constant

hum

in

our

ears

called Tinnitus. Some cases of tinnitus are caused by too

much ear wax or infection but mostly it is caused by loud
music or noise. This is why we must be careful not to
expose ourselves to too much loud noise as excessive
noise is still the number one reason for hearing loss.
Sound loudness is measured in decibels (dB). A whisper
is 30 db but a Lawn mower is 95 (dB). Prolonged
exposure to anything over 80 dB can cause hearing
damage. So turn down those MP3 players kids!

Interesting Facts
The staples is the smallest bone in the whole body!
It is only 0.25 to 0.33 cm long and only weighs 1.9 to
4.3 milligrams.

 200,000 people in the United States are deaf; 3

million people in the US have serious hearing
problems.
Fish do not have ears, but they can hear. They hear
pressure changes through ridges on their bodies.
Crickets have their hearing organs in their knees!