Table of Contents
Ear Diagram:
Outer ear, Middle ear and Inner ear
The outer ear includes the pinna and ear canal. The pinna is the visible part of the ear that sticks out from the side of the head. The ear canal is a tube that runs from the outer ear to the middle ear.
The middle ear is a small, air-filled chamber that lies behind the eardrum. The middle ear contains three small bones called the ossicles. These bones are:
The malleus (hammer)
The incus (anvil)
The stapes (stirrup)
The ossicles amplify the sound waves that hit the eardrum and pass them on to the inner ear.
The inner ear is a small, fluid-filled chamber that contains the cochlea. The cochlea is a spiral-shaped tube that contains thousands of tiny hair cells. These hair cells are responsible for converting sound waves into electrical signals that the brain can understand.
Parts of the Human Ear
The human ear has three main parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear.
The outer ear is made up of the ear canal and the earlobe. The ear canal is a tube that goes from the outside of the ear to the eardrum. The earlobe is the fleshy part of the ear that hangs from the side of the head.
The middle ear is made up of the eardrum and three tiny bones called the malleus, the incus, and the stapes. The eardrum is a thin piece of skin that separates the outer ear from the middle ear. The malleus, the incus, and the stapes are the smallest bones in the body.
The inner ear is made up of the cochlea and the semicircular canals. The cochlea is a spiral-shaped tube that is filled with fluid. The semicircular canals are three tubes that are responsible for the balance of the body.
The Outer Ear:
The Outer Ear is the visible part of the ear that sticks out from the side of the head. It is made up of the Ear Canal, the Ear Drum, and the Ear Lobes.
The Ear Canal is a narrow tube that extends from the Ear Drum to the Ear Lobes. It is filled with fluid and helps to keep the Ear Drum clean and lubricated.
The Ear Drum is a thin membrane that separates the Ear Canal from the Middle Ear. It vibrates when sound waves hit it, and sends these vibrations to the Inner Ear.
The Ear Lobes are the two fleshy parts of the Outer Ear that extend from the side of the head. They are filled with blood vessels and help to warm and moisten the air that enters the Ear Canal.
Middle Ear
Infection (Otitis Media)
The middle ear is the air-filled cavity behind the eardrum that helps transmit sound vibrations to the inner ear. An infection in the middle ear is called otitis media. Otitis media can be caused by a virus or bacteria and is usually treated with antibiotics.
Symptoms of otitis media include ear pain, drainage from the ear, fever, and hearing loss. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the brain and cause meningitis.
Inner Ear
The inner ear is the part of the ear that is responsible for hearing and balance. The inner ear is made up of the cochlea, the semicircular canals, and the vestibule. The cochlea is a spiral-shaped structure that contains the organ of Corti. The organ of Corti is responsible for detecting sound vibrations and converting them into electrical signals that are sent to the brain. The semicircular canals are responsible for balance. The vestibule is responsible for detecting movement and position.
