How the human ear works?
An advanced and very sensitive organ of the human body, the ear performs two important functions. One is that of facilitating hearing by collecting sounds and sending the sound signals to the brain, and the other is that of maintaining equilibrium (balance).
The ear has three sections: the outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. The outer ear consists of the pinna--- the projecting part or flap of the ear, and the auditory canal, where ear wax is produced. Wax lubricates and protects the ear.
Sound waves enter the ear through the pinna and travel through the auditory canal towards the middle ear. Here, they strike a membrane called the eardrum, which separates the outer ear from the middle ear. This causes the sound vibrations, which enter the cochlea, a small, snail shaped tube in the inner ear. The cochlea is lined with sensitive cells covered with tiny hair. When sound reaches the cochlea, the vibrations cause the hair on the cells to move, creating nerve signals which the brain recognises as sound.
The inner ear also has the function of maintaining the balance of the body. It contains sensitive hair cells and a fluid called endolymph, which fluctuates in response to the movement of head. This sets up impulses in nerve fibres that lead to the brain. The brain then sends messages to muscles in all parts of the body to ensure that equilibrium is maintained.
