Human Ear For Kids

In this article, we will be learning about the human ear, parts of the ear with their functions, how the human ear works step by step, and many amazing facts about the ear for kids. The ear is one of the five sense organs that makes us hear and maintains the balance of the body. It is responsible for converting sound waves into electrochemical waves. It is a very delicate organ.

What does the ear consist of that enables us to hear?

The ear has been divided into three parts:

  1. External/outer Ear
  2. Middle Ear
  3. Inner Ear
human ear

Outer Ear:

It consists of an outer visible part called Pinna which is made up of cartilage. Pinna is followed by a small auditory canal. The auditory canal has the presence of wax glands, which protect the skin of the ears and prevent germ growth. The auditory canal ends with a tympanic membrane, which is also called Eardrum. It also separates Outer Ear from middle ear. Pinna collects the sound waves and passes them to the auditory canal, which makes them reach the tympanic membrane responsible for amplification of sound.

Middle Ear:

This part consists of three bones, namely, the hammer or malleus, the anvil or incus, and the stirrup or stapes, which are connected to each other, and the hammer is connected to the tympanic membrane. When the sound waves reach the tympanic membrane, they get amplified due to compression created by sound waves. This amplified sound passes to the hammer, which further passes the sound waves to the other two bones for further amplification.

Inner Ear:

This part consists of a fluid-filled cavity called the cochlea. The cochlea is a snail-shaped structure. The amplified sound on reaching the fluid present in the cochlea produces electrical signals, which are transmitted to the brain. The brain interprets the sound and in return passes the electrical impulses to auditory nerve, which helps us to perceive sound that we hear.

Working of Human Ear

Sound from the source is collected by Pinna passes to narrow funnel-shaped part called auditory canal, which passes the sound waves following the pattern of compression and rarefaction into the tympanic membrane, which vibrates and the signal passes from eardrum to the first bone of middle ear hammer, which further passes the signal to other two bones, the anvil and stirrup. This amplified sound enters the fluid present in cochlea and generates electrical impulses, which passes on to brain and brain passes the signal to the auditory canal, and we finally hear the sound.
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