The Human Ear

Introduction to The Human Ear

 The human ear is more than just a simple organ

which just helps you hear something. It has one of
the most important functions in the body.
 The human hear has two main functions which are:
1) Hearing
2) Balance

 Without the ear, we can’t balance our body in terms

of the gravitational pull of the earth. Also, it
maintains a balance of pressure gradient.
The Ear Anatomy: Outer Ear

 The outer/external ear main function is to channel the sound

waves to the middle ear through the ear canal and also acts as
the first line of defense.
 The outer ear contains earwax which lubricates the walls of the
ear canal and also its antimicrobial.
 The pinna is made of cartilage and is really important in
directing the sound waves to the auditory canal. The folds on
the outer ear has resonance properties which help in locating
the source of the sound.
 The auditory canal transmits sound from the pinna to the ear
drum
 The Tympanic Membrane or the eardrum vibrates when a sound
wave strikes it and these vibrations are passed onto the ear
muscles in the inner ear.
The Ear Anatomy: Middle Ear

 The Middle ear contains the parts known as ossicles,

Eustachian Tubes and the Oval window.
 The ossicles are made of three muscles which are:
1) Stapes
2) Incus
3) Malleus
The ossicles transmit vibrations of the ear mechanically to the
fluid filled cochlea in the inner ear.
 The Eustachian tubes help in maintaining a pressure gradient
by filling the Tympanic cavity with air whenever you swallow.
The Ear Anatomy: Inner Ear

 The inner ear is one of the most important parts

of the ear and contains parts called the cochlea
and the semicircular canals.
 The cochlea is a snail like tube which is made of
three fluid filled chambers. The cochlear duct
contains the organ of Corti. This part contains
hair cells which vibrate and send the chemical
signals via the cochlear nerve.
 The semicircular canals help in balancing the
body and sends signals about the orientation of
the body. These act like motion centers.
Function of the Ear: Balancing

 The two main parts of the ears which help us in balancing is the Semicircular
canals and the vestibular nerves.
 The semi circular canals are interconnected and are perpendicular to each
other. They maintain the dynamic equilibrium. Dynamic equilibrium let’s the
brain know about the rotation and which way our head is moving in 3D space.
 The semicircular canals contain a fluid called endolymph. When the head
tilts, the fluid moves in that direction which causes the cilia in the canals to
transmit the direction of tilt via the vestibulocochlear nerve.
 The Vestibular Nerves maintain static equilibrium. Static equilibrium let’s us
know the position of our head which relates to gravity. This helps to maintain
stability by the CNS when we are not moving.
Conclusion

 The ear is one of the most important organs of the body. With each part
playing an important role, it is pivotal to maintain the health of the ear. With
attending concerts, or high TV noises, we may get NIHL (Noise Induced
Hearing Loss). Thus, these are the functions of the ear and how intricate and
fragile the system is.
Bibliography
 https://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/ear#1
 https://www.livescience.com/52287-ear-anatomy.html
 https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/earwax.html
 https://www.apsubiology.org/anatomy/2010/2010_Exam_Reviews/Exam_4_Review/CH
_15_Inner_Ear-Static-Dynamic-Equilibrium.htm
 https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss
 https://www.livescience.com/32439-why-are-ears-shaped-so-strangely.html
 https://www.eyeandear.org.au/page/Patients/Patient_information/Balance_Disorders
/How_does_the_balance_system_work/
 https://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/tympanic-membrane#1
 https://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/middle-ear#1
 https://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/semicircular-canals#1
THANK YOU!