Download 1 Outer Ear - myCochlear

How We Hear
Ever wondered how we hear?
• What happens in our ear
– when the door bell rings?
– when a dog barks?
– when someone is talking?
Objectives
• Learn the parts of the ear
• Understand how sound is processed
Basic Anatomy and
Physiology of the Ear
Three parts of the ear
• Outer ear
• Middle ear
• Inner ear
How do we hear?
#1 Outer
Ear
#1) The outer ear consists of the ear canal and eardrum. Sound travels down the
ear canal, striking the eardrum and causing it to move or vibrate.
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How do we hear?
#2 Middle Ear
#2) The middle ear contains three small bones called ossicles. This chain of tiny
bones is connected to the eardrum at one end and to an opening to the inner ear
at the other end. Vibrations from the eardrum cause the ossicles to vibrate which,
in turn, creates movement of the fluid in the inner ear.
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How do we hear?
#3 Inner Ear
(Cochlea)
#3) The movement of the fluid in the inner ear or cochlea, causes changes in
tiny structures called hair cells.
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How do we hear?
#4 Auditory
Nerve
#4) This movement of the hair cells sends electric signals from the inner ear
up the auditory nerve (also known as the hearing nerve) to the brain.
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How do we hear?
#5) The brain then interprets these electrical signals as sound.
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#5 Brain
Summary
• Becoming educated about the ear and
how we hear is the first step towards
advocating.
• Knowing the anatomy of the ear helps us
to better understand how we hear.
• Understanding how hearing is processed
enables us to educate those who have
hearing loss.