How the Hearing System works

The Human Ear is a complex organ made up of 3 main parts called the Outer Ear (Pinna and Ear Canal), Middle Ear (Eardrum and Ossicular Chain) and the Inner Ear (Cochlear, Eustachian Tube and the Auditory Nerve).

1. When we hear speech, music or any environmental sounds the sound waves enter the ear canal vibrating the Eardrum (Tympanic membrane).

2. Vibrations caused by the sound waves on the eardrum also causes the middle ear bones in the Ossicular cain called the Malleus, Incus, and Stapes bones to vibrate.

3. Tiny sensory hair cells within the Cochlea capture the vibrations and transform them into electrical signals. Different sounds cause different types of vibration which produce how loud we perceive a sound or the type of tone.

4. The Auditory Nerve carries the electrical signals to the brain where they are understood as sounds.