Senses: Ears

Pinna - auricle of exterior ear that collects sound waves
Auditory Canal -one of two canals leading to the ear
Cerumen - earwax secreted by ceruminous glands
Eardrum- where external ear ends

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​Structures of the Ear: External

Contains the three bones, or ossicles, that are joined to amplify the sound waves from ear drum.
Malleus, Incus, and Stapes

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​Middle Ear

​Hammer -

​​Malleus

​Anvil

​​Incus

Stirrups

​​Stapes

​Connect the phaynx to the middle ear. Helps equalize the air pressure on either side of the eardrum. Without these, our eardrums would not be allowed to vibrate!

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Cochlea
Vestibule Chamber​
Semicircular Canals

​Inner Ear: Bony Labyrinth

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relays info to the brain by the cochlear branch of vestibulocochlear nerve

​​Cochlea

​small cavity at the beginning of a canal.

​​Vestibule Chamber

​Three canals oriented in three different planes that help us keep our balance.

​​Semicircular Canals

​Auricle traps soundwaves...

Eardrum vibrates due to these soundwaves and sends them through a liquid to the inner ear and our three small bones (hammer, anvil, stirrups) which is connected to the oval window in inner ear. At this point the soundwaves have been amplified as much as 22 times the original! The cochlea contains perilymph that transmits the sound to endolymph where it is carried to hair-like receptors called organ of Corti which turn the sound to signals for the brain.

​Sound waves vibrating the eardrum

​​Sound Conduction

​When middle ear amplifies the sound waves.

​​Bone Conduction

Sound is converted to nerve impulses sent to the temporal lobe where it is interpreted as sound.

Sensorineural Conduction