Ear anatomy (first year mbbs notes)

Function Overview Anatomy of the outer, middle and inner ear. Your outer ear and middle ear are separated by your eardrum, and your inner ear houses the cochlea, vestibular nerve and semicircular canals (fluid-filled spaces involved in balance and hearing). What is the ear? Your ears are organs that detect and analyze sound. Located on each side of your head, they help with hearing and balance. Advertisement Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy Care at Cleveland Clinic Find a Primary Care Provider Schedule an Appointment Function What is the main function of the ear? Your ears have two main functions: hearing and balance. Hearing: When sound waves enter your ear canal, your tympanic membrane (eardrum) vibrates. This vibration passes on to three tiny bones (ossicles) in your middle ear. The ossicles amplify and transmit these sound waves to your inner ear. Once the sound waves reach your inner ear, tiny hair cells called stereocilia transform the vibrations into electrical energy and send it along nerve fibers to your brain. Balance: Your inner ear contains semicircular canals filled with fluid and hair-like sensors. When you move your head, the fluid inside these loop-shaped canals sloshes around and moves the hairs. The hairs transmit this information along the vestibular nerve to your brain. Finally, your brain sends signals to your muscles to help you stay balanced. Anatomy Where are my ears located? Your ears are on either side of your head, directly over your temporal lobe. This part of your brain is responsible for hearing, speech, memory and some emotion.