Question

Briefly describe the structure of Ear.

Answer 1

We are able to hear with the help of an extremely sensitive device called the ear. It allows us to convert pressure variations in air with audible frequencies into electric signals that travel to the brain via the auditory nerve.

The outer ear is called ‘pinna’. It collects the sound from the surroundings. The collected sound passes through the auditory canal. At the end of the auditory canal there is a thin membrane called the ear drum or tympanic membrane. When a compression of the medium reaches the eardrum the pressure on the outside of the membrane increases and forces the eardrum inward. Similarly, the eardrum moves outward when a rarefaction reaches it. In this way the eardrum vibrates. The vibrations are amplified several times by three bones (the hammer, anvil and stirrup) in the middle ear. The middle ear transmits the amplified pressure variations received from the sound wave to the inner ear. In the inner ear, the pressure variations are turned into electrical signals by the cochlea. These electrical signals are sent to the brain via the auditory nerve, and the brain interprets them as sound.

Answer 2

The structure of ear is described below :

Our ear has three divisions which are in sections. These sections are -

i) Outer Ear

This section contains two structures. These are - pinna and the external auditory canal.

ii) Middle Ear

This part consists 3 ossicles. These are - malleus and incus and the stapes.  These 3 are connected to one another as a chain.

iii) Inner Ear

This is also called as labyrinth. It has two sections : bony as well as membrane type labyrinths.