Research

Task- Ear Anatomy & Function

Complete the following table:
Anatomy

Outer, middle or inner

ear?

Function

Auricle

Outer

A structure resembling an
ear or ear lobe.

Ear Canal

Outer

The ear canal, also called

the external acoustic
meatus, is a passage
comprised of bone and
skin leading to the
eardrum.

Eardrum

Middle

the membrane of the

middle ear, which vibrates
in response to sound
waves; the tympanic
membrane.

Ossicles

Middle

The ossicles (also called

auditory ossicles) are
three bones in either
middle ear that are among
the smallest bones in the
human body.

Oval Window

Inner

The oval window (or

vestibular window) is a
membrane-covered
opening that leads from
the middle ear to the
vestibule of the inner ear.

Semicircular Canals

Inner

The semicircular canals

are part of the inner ear.
They are lined with cilia
(microscopic hairs) and
Milled with a liquid
substance, known as
endolymph. Every time
the head moves, the
endolymph moves the
cilia.

Cochlear

Outer

The cochlea (auditory

inner ear) transforms the
sound in neural message.
The function of the
cochlea is to transform
the vibrations of the
cochlear liquids and
associated structures into
a neural signal.

Auditory Nerve

Inner

The auditory nerve is a

bundle of nerve Mibers
that carries hearing
information between the
cochlea the brain.

Eustachian

Middle

The primary function of

the Eustachian tube is to
ventilate the middle ear
space, ensuring that its
pressure remains at near
normal environmental air
pressure.