Question

Explain briefly how the ear works, and therefore how we 'hear'.

Answer 1

Human ear is made of three parts:

• Outer ear – This is the visible part called pinna. It collects sound waves and directs them to the ear tube, at the end of which lies the ear drum. When sound strikes, the ear drum vibrates and passes sound to the middle ear.
• Middle ear – It is a cavity containing three important bones, placed in a manner that they can move with the vibrating ear drum and transmit sound to the inner ear.
• Inner ear – It contains fluid, which vibrates with transmission of sound and excites tiny hair in inner ear. The hair transform these vibrations into electrical impulses and these are transmitted to the brain through auditory nerve.