How We Hear
The ear has three main components:
1. Outer ear
Sound travels down the ear canal causing the eardrum to vibrate.
Did you know?
Even the shape and design of our ears help us localize where sounds are coming from!
2. Middle ear
Behind the eardrum there are three small bones called the ossicles. This chain of tiny bones begin to rock, as shown in the video, creating movement in the fluid of the inner ear.
3. Inner ear
The organ of hearing, known as the cochlea, contains tiny hair cells that begin to move which sends electrical signals from the inner ear up the auditory nerve to the brain.
The brain then interprets these electrical signals as sound.