Anatomy of the Human Ear: Relation to Hearing Loss

Anatomy of the Human Ear

The ear itself is composed of four basic areas which work together to convert sound waves into electric signals that the brain then turns into sound. The outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, and central auditory are all general parts of the ear that work together to create a person’s sense of balance and hearing.

The outer section of the ear acts as a sound funnel as the walls produce wax, moving it toward the outside of the ear as a natural extraction of the wax. Wax protects the ear, removing particles and germs away from the ear drum.

The middle of the ear is mostly an air filled space with 3 tiny bones called the ossicular chain. These bones attach to the back of the ear drum and connected the middle of the ear to the back of the nose and throat via the Eustachian tube. This tube maintains an equal air pressure within the middle of the ear. The eardrum and the ossicular chain respond to sound waves entering the ear canal by vibrations.

The inner ear consists of a small snail-shaped organ set in the bone of the skull called the cochlea. Tiny hairs are present in this area and swing in motion from sound vibrations traveling through the ear towards the brain.

Several causes like a build up of wax in the ear canal, a hole in the eardrum, a build-up of fluid, an infection in the middle of the ear and issues regarding the tiny bones in the middle of the ear all can result in a loss of hearing.