What is hearing?
Hearing is a complex process that involves the coordinated work of the ears, auditory nerves, and brain. Together, these structures help us stay aware of our surroundings, recognize different sounds, and enjoy experiences like music. We’ll explore how we hear sound, examine the anatomy of the auditory system, and understand how sound is processed step by step.
Anatomy of ear
The human ear is made up of three parts: Outer, Middle and Inner ear
1. Outer Ear – This consists of pinna (auricle) and ear canal (meatus)
- Pinna/Auricle : Visible part of ear made up of cartilage. The part that collects sound waves.
- Ear Canal : A pathway that sound waves travel to reachach the eardrum (tympanic membrane).
2. Middle Ear – This consists of the eardrum (tympanic membrane), three tiny bones called ossicles (malleus, incus and stapes), and the eustachian tube.
- The eardrum separates the middle ear from outer ear and turns sound waves from our environment into vibrations that are transmitted to inner ear through auditory ossicles, three smallest bones in our bodies.
- Three little bones called ossicles; the malleus, incus, and stapes amplify and send vibrations to the inner ear.
- Eustachian tube : Narrow tube that connects middle ear to nasal cavity. Acts as a pressure valve to balance pressure on both sides of the eardrum.
3. Inner Ear – It consists of the cochlea, auditory vestibular nerve, and semicircular canal. The auditory vestibular nerve is responsible for detecting sound, and the semicircular canal is responsible for balance.
- Cochlea: A coiled, fluid-filled anatomical structure that contains cells (hair cells) called stereocilia. It works by converting sound pressure patterns from outer ear (vibrations) into electrochemical impulses/signals that are transmitted to brain through auditory nerve.
What is the process (mechanism) of hearing?
When we detect sounds or noise, our body changes the energy of sound waves into nerve impulses, which the brain interprets.
When we hear sound, this is what actually takes place:
1. Sound waves enter the ear canal and hit the eardrum. This causes vibrations.
2. Vibrations pass through three connected bones in the middle ear.
3. The stapes bone is connected with the cochlea in the inner ear. When sound reaches cochlea, it vibrates the fluid present inside it.
4. Moving fluid bends thousands of delicate hair-like cells that convert the vibrations to nerve impulses.
5. Nerve impulses are carried to the brain by the auditory nerve.
6. In the brain, these impulses are converted into what we “hear” as sound.
Every component of the auditory system is essential since any issue with it could impair your hearing. This could lead to hearing loss and eventually use of hearing aid.
The intricate and well-coordinated process of hearing enables us to interpret our surroundings. Starting from sound entering through the outer ear till sound interpretation by the brain, each part plays its own role.This is why it’s important to protect our hearing.
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