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Structure of Human Ear

HUMAN EAR (Helpful in SSC,APPSC,NEET and UPSC)

The human ear is an organ of hearing and equilibrium that detect and analyses noise by transduction and maintains balance in our body.

A mechanical injury that might stimulate receptor cells in the ear would produce sensations of sound, ringing in the ears. Similarly, if one could make a nerve connection between the sensory receptor cells of the ear, it would be possible to perceive the sound.

ANATOMY OF THE HUMAR EAR

The human ear is divided into 3 separate regions:

  1. Outer ear.
  2. Middle ear
  3. Inner ear

The outer and the middle ear function in the conduction of the sound waves and the inner ear contain structures that receive the auditory waves and relay them to the brain.

  1. OUTER EAR

Sound waves enter the ear through the pinna, also called as the auricle, which is the projecting part of the ear. The external auditory canal leads from the pinna and is lined by numerous glands that secrete the yellowish-brown, waxy substance called cerumen. It lubricates and protects the ear.

  1. MIDDLE EAR

Sound waves travel through the auditory canal and strike the membrane between the outer and the middle ear, this region is known as the ear drum or the tympanic membrane. As the ear drum vibrates, it moves 3 ear bones, or ossicles, that conduct the sound waves through the middle ear. These bones, in the order of their vibration, are named as the malleus, incus and the stapes. Stapes touches a membrane known as the oval window, which separates the middle ear from the inner ear.

The auditory or the Eustachian tube is a canal leading from the middle ear to the pharynx. It is most of the times closed except at the time swallowing. This tube maintains the required pressure in the ear.

  1. INNER EAR

Sound vibrations reach the inner ear, it is also known as the labyrinth, because of its circular, maze-like structure. The part of the labyrinth that leads from the oval window is a bony, snail-shaped structure called the cochlea. The cochlea contains special auditory liquids called perilymph and endolymph through which the vibration travels. It also contains organ of corti. In this organ, tiny hair cells receive vibrations from the auditory liquids and relay the sound waves to auditory nerve cells.

Within the inner ear are 3 organs responsible for equilibrium, semi circular canals, saccule and utricle. These organs contain the fluid called endolymph, as well as sensitive hair cells. In an intricate manner, the fluid and the hair cells fluctuate in response to the movement of the head. This sets up impulses in the nerve fibers that lead to the brain. Messages that are sent to the muscles in all parts of the body to assure that equilibrium is maintained.

FUNCTIONING OF THE HUMAN EAR

Sound waves are received by the outer ear, conducted to special receptor cells within the ear and transmitted by those cells to nerve fibers that lead to the auditory region of the brain in the cerebral cortex. It is within the nerve fibers of the cerebral cortex that the sensations of the sound are perceived.

Anatomy Structure of Ear
Anatomy Structure of Ear

Q.1. Which part of the ear contains the structure that receive auditory waves?

  1. Outer ear
  2. Middle ear
  3. Inner ear
  4. Nerve fibers

Ans. c

Q.2. What is the sensitive auditory receptor area in the inner ear called:

  1. Labyrinth
  2. Perilymph
  3. Corti
  4. Saccule

Ans. c

Q.3. Which is the smallest ear ossicles?

  1. Malleus
  2. Incus
  3. Stapes.
  4. Labyrinth

Ans. c

Q.4. Waxy substance of the ear is:

  1. Cerumen
  2. Sebaceous
  3. Oval window
  4. Saccule

Ans. a

Q.5. Auditory liquids:

  1. Endolymph
  2. Perilymph
  3. Both
  4. None

Ans. c

Q.6. Which nerve helps in hearing:

  1. Olfactory
  2. Optic.
  3. Occulomotor
  4. Auditory

Ans. d

Q.7. The tube that connects the middle ear to the throat:

  1. Trachea
  2. Bronchioles
  3. Eustachian tube
  4. Oval tube

Ans. c

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