How does the ear work?

To better understand hearing loss and what can be done, it is first important to understand how the ear receives and processes sound.

Outer Ear

Sound first enters our ear at the pinna, which is the visible part of the ear on the outside of our head. The pinna is designed to collect sound waves and funnel them down the ear canal towards the tympanic membrane (eardrum).

Together, the pinna and ear canal are referred to as the outer ear.

Middle Ear

The middle ear starts with the tympanic membrane. As sound waves traveling down the ear canal reach the tympanic membrane, it vibrates like a drum.
Behind the eardrum is an air-filled space containing three tiny bones; the malleus, incus and stapes. They are the smallest bones found anywhere in the human body. The vibrations in the eardrum, in turn, cause these bones to vibrate. The middle ear consists of the eardrum, malleus, incus, stapes, and the air pocket in which they reside.

Inner Ear

The middle ear starts with the tympanic membrane. As sound waves traveling down the ear canal reach the tympanic membrane, it vibrates like a drum. Behind the eardrum is an air-filled space containing three tiny bones; the malleus, incus and stapes. They are the smallest bones found anywhere in the human body. The vibrations in the eardrum, in turn, cause these bones to vibrate. The middle ear consists of the eardrum, malleus, incus, stapes, and the air pocket in which they reside.

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