human ear: Quick Facts

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Cross-section diagram of the human ear showing the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear, with labeled parts including the auricle, auditory canal, tympanic membrane, ossicles, cochlea, semicircular canals, and nerves.

structures of the middle ear

labyrinth of the inner ear

Diagram of the human vestibular system showing the membranous labyrinth with labeled structures for balance: the cristae in the semicircular ducts and the maculae in the utricle and saccule. Insets detail the crista with hair cells and cupula, and the macula with hair cells, otolithic membrane, and supporting structures.

structures of the cochlea; human ear

organ of Corti; human ear

healthy organ of Corti from a guinea pig

damaged organ of Corti from a guinea pig

Diagram of the human ear showing how sound waves travel through the outer ear and auditory canal to the tympanic membrane, causing vibrations in the ossicles, and then through the middle and inner ear, including the cochlea. Color-coded sections highlight the outer ear in orange, middle ear in pink, and inner ear in blue.

Diagram illustrating how the basilar membrane in the cochlea analyzes sound frequencies, with a spiral showing frequency regions from base to apex and side panels depicting how high, medium, and low frequencies stimulate different membrane areas.

Black-and-white photo of a man in a suit plugging his ears with his fingers. An orange polka dot pattern is behind his head.

Watch sound wave vibrations in the tympanic membrane

Know how human ears help to perceive and distinguish sounds

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Know about the various advanced biometrics forms of security measures, from ear and nose analysis to palm recognition

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Topics

middle ear external ear otic capsule inner ear Why Are Elephants’ Ears So Big?hearing tympanic annulus epitympanum columella tympanum olfactory system heart Brain stomach liver lung mouth jaw taste bud nose

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Animal development: The ear

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Gabriel Fallopius

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Magnus Gustaf Retzius

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