Perception of Sound

What is sound?
Vibrations that are transmitted through matter. Sound waves have different frequencies (pitch) and amplitudes (volume)

Parts of the Ear

Eardrum: vibrates in Pinna: collects
and concentrates sound waves response to the pressure changes of sound waves

Middle Ear Bones: stimulated by the ear

drum, they knock against each other and magnify the sound by up to 20X

Semicircular canals: for balance Cochlea: tiny

hairs respond to individual wavelengths of sound. This is then converted into action potentials.

Oval window:
transmits vibrations from middle ear bones

Auditory nerve: transmits

nerve impulse from cochlea to brain

Auditory canal: focuses

the sound waves entering the ear

Round window:
dissipates vibrations

Eustachian tube:
joins throat and sinus to equalize pressure

How does the ear perceive sound?

Animation

To Recap:
Sound creates pressure waves in the air which are collected by the pinna and auditory canal and directed towards the middle and inner ear. The pressure wave in the air pushes the membrane of the eardrum and causes it to vibrate. It vibrates at different speeds and intensities depending on the volume or pitch of the sound.

How the ear works

The eardrum pushes the bones of the middle ear. The movement of the bones magnifies the vibration by about 20X. The middle ear bones push against the oval window membrane, transmitted the vibrations into the fluid filled cavity of the cochlea. The pressure wave travels through the fluid in the cochlea.

How the ear works

Sensory receptors in the cochlea fluid are moved by the waves in the fluid. Movement of the hairs results in the release of neurotransmitter between the receptor cells and the auditory nerve. A nerve impulse is generated in the auditory nerve that is carried to the brain. The brain interprets the sound. The energy of the wave in the cochlea is dissipated through movements in the round window.

Test your hearing range

Normal hearing range is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. As you grow older, the range for your hearing decreases. Test

Localizing sound
Your brain integrates the information from both ears to determine the location of a sound. See if you can determine the location of a sound while your eyes are closed.