Question

Explain the structure of human ear and its functions.

Accepted Answer

The ear is one of the most important sensory organs. It's a type of auditory organ. It is also employed by mammals as a balance. As a result, it is critical to gain a thorough understanding of the human ear's internal structure and function. Sound waves are mechanical waves. Sound is a disturbance that is communicated via particle-to-particle interaction through a medium.

The structure of human ear is mainly divided into three parts. They are inner ear, middle ear and outer ear.

Outer is the exterior part of the ear, as the name implies. It is divided into smaller sections. They are as follows:
Auricle or Pinna is the section that can be seen from the street. It can be found on the left side of the head. It aids in the collection of all sounds and their transmission to the ear canal. It's the first step in the full hearing procedure. Sound isolation is done by pinna.
Tube or External Auditory Canal is also referred to as an ear canal. It's a one-inch tunnel that leads to the tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum.
Membrane of the tympanic cavity is commonly referred to as the eardrum. It separates the outer and middle ears. It's a thin membrane between the middle and outer ear that's stretched taut like a drum head. The membrane vibrates as sound waves strike it, producing sound.

The air-filled chamber of the middle ear vibrates when sound waves strike the eardrum. Sound waves in the form of pressure differences are transmitted from here to the cochlea in the inner ear via three of the human body's tiniest bones. Malleus, Incus, and Stapes are the three bones. This part of the middle ear is extremely crucial and delicate. It sends messages from the inner ear to the outer ear and vice versa due to its varied air gaps. Furthermore, the stapes is the tiniest bone in the human body. Another feature of this section is that it guides infections into the ear. The sound is still present in the waveform. The cochlea in the inner ear receives the sound information.

The cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibule make up the inner ear, also known as the labyrinth. The perilymph is a fluid that fills the bone labyrinth. The oval window connects the cochlea to the middle ear, which is a bony canal with two-and-a-half spirals. Membranes divide the cochlea into three canals on the inside.
Sound receptors can also be found in the central canal. Its hair cells convert sound vibrations into nerve impulses and are well-suited to interpreting noises of various frequencies. Semicircular canals are a group of three fluid-filled tubes that run perpendicular to one another and are crucial for maintaining bodily equilibrium while moving. The vestibule contains sensors that help the body maintain its static balance.

Hearing is the most important function of the human ear. The eardrum is capable of accomplishing this. When it gets a sound signal, it vibrates automatically. The ear must receive the sound from its inner part, respond with other sense organs, and follow the laws of the human brain's cerebrum and cerebellum. All of the tasks should be executed parallely. The entire procedure is known as balancing.

Explain the structure of human ear and its functions.

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