Human Ear Sound Transfer

This model introduces the physics of hearing. The human ear is divided into three main sections: the outer, middle, and inner ear. We present the journey of a sound wave from the outermost part of the ear to the innermost part, which transmits signals to the brain. The outer ear collects and focuses the sound wave, directing it through the ear canal to the eardrum. The pressure fluctuations of the sound wave cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted through the three small bones in the middle ear to the inner ear. In the inner ear, sound waves are carried through fluid and converted into signals that are interpreted by the brain as sound. The inner ear, composed of the semicircular canals, cochlea, and auditory nerve, is filled with fluid that allows the body to detect quick movements and maintain balance. Ion channels in the receptor cells of the inner ear adjust their electrical conductivity in response to lateral deflection of the sensors where they are located.