Hearing , or auditory perception
What hearing means?
Hearing is the ability to perceive sound by detecting vibrations through the ear . ... The human ear can be divided into three main components: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear.
What is the sensory function of the ear?
The ear is the sensory organ responsible for hearing and the maintenance of equilibrium , via the detection of body position and of head movement.
What is the main function of ear?
The ears are organs that provide two main functions — hearing and balance — that depend on specialized receptors called hair cells.
What is ear and its function?
Key points. Hearing and balance are the two main functions of the ear. The ear is divided into three parts: the external, middle and inner ears. The transmission of sound takes place in the external and middle ears. The inner ear houses the cochlea (organ of hearing) and the peripheral vestibular system (organ of ...
What organ is used for hearing?
The inner ear consists of a spiral shaped structure known as the cochlea (means snail-shell). Within the cochlea sits the organ of hearing where we have thousands of tiny cells, known as hair cells. The hair cells are stimulated and send messages to the auditory nerve.
What is responsible for hearing?
1) The cochlea is responsible for hearing, 2) the semicircular canals have function associated with balance, and 3) the vestibule which connects the two and contains two more balance and equilibrium related structures, the saccule and utricle.
What are the 6 steps of hearing?
- Step 1: Hearing history. ...
- Step 2: Visual exam of the external ear canal (otoscopy) ...
- Step 3: Middle ear check. ...
- Step 4: Sound detection. ...
- Step 5: Word recognition. ...
- Step 6: Results and recommendations.
What are the three functions of the ear?
The human ear, like that of other mammals, contains sense organs that serve two quite different functions: that of hearing and that of postural equilibrium and coordination of head and eye movements . Anatomically, the ear has three distinguishable parts: the outer, middle, and inner ear.
What are common ear problems?
- Swimmer’s ear. Swimmer’s ear, also called otitis externa, is an infection that people develop between the eardrum and the outer ear (the bit that you can see on the side of the head). ...
- Infections of the middle ear. ...
- Blocked ears. ...
- Meniere’s disease. ...
- Otosclerosis. ...
- Changes in pressure.
How does the ear balance the body?
The inner ear is home to the cochlea and the main parts of the vestibular system . The vestibular system is one of the sensory systems that provides your brain with information about balance, motion, and the location of your head and body in relation to your surroundings.
Why do we have 2 ears?
With two ears, you are able to hear sounds clearly from both directions . Hearing sound from only one side of the body limits the amount of sound that you can hear clearly from the other side. ... When you are in a social situation, two ears make it easier to hear sounds.
What are the 3 major parts of the ear?
- External or outer ear, consisting of: Pinna or auricle. This is the outside part of the ear. ...
- Tympanic membrane (eardrum). The tympanic membrane divides the external ear from the middle ear.
- Middle ear (tympanic cavity), consisting of: Ossicles. ...
- Inner ear, consisting of: Cochlea.
What is a ear canal?
The ear canal is a small, tube-like pathway that extends from the outer ear to the eardrum . In addition to helping a person hear, the ear canal has many other functions, such as protecting the delicate inner ear from bacteria and dirt, and warming air before it enters the inner ear.
What might cause the eardrum to rupture?
Causes of a ruptured (perforated) eardrum may include: Middle ear infection (otitis media) . A middle ear infection often results in the accumulation of fluids in your middle ear. Pressure from these fluids can cause the eardrum to rupture.
What is the correct path of sound through the ear to the brain?
The ossicles amplify the sound. They send the sound waves to the inner ear and into the fluid-filled hearing organ (cochlea). Once the sound waves reach the inner ear, they are converted into electrical impulses. The auditory nerve sends these impulses to the brain.
