Our ears are among the body's most complex organs. They receive and transmit sound waves into the brain where they are analyzed and interpreted.
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Stage 1 - The outer ear
The outer ear collects sound waves and directs them into the ear canal. Here they are amplified by the canal's funnel-like shape and channeled on to the eardrum.
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Stage 2 - The middle ear
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On reaching the eardrum, the sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate, transmitting the sound to three tiny bones located in the middle ear.
These bones are commonly referred to as the hammer, anvil, and stirrup and they connect the eardrum to a membrane between the middle and inner ear, known as the "oval window".
The movement of the oval window transmits the presurre waves of sound in to the inner ear.
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Stage 3 - The inner ear
The inner ear is fluid-filled and consists of the spiral-shaped "cochlea".
The passageways of the cochlea are lined with about 20,000 microscopic hair cells that convert sound vibrations into nerve impulses. These impulses are then sent to the brain which interprets the impulses as meaningful sounds.
