Subject Title: Introduction to Psychology

Course Code: Psy-101

Instructor:

Lubna Ishtiaq

EAR:
Hearing is one of the two most important senses
with the outside world. So hearing is a function of
only receives sound, but also aids in balance
position.

for keeping in contact

ear. It not
and body

Stimulus: Sound waves are the stimulus for

hearing.

Structure & Function of the Ear

The Ear is divided into three major parts:

The outer ear: Gathers sound and directs

drum

The middle ear: Transforms sound energy for inner ear

The inner ear: Location of auditory receptors

it to the ear

The Human Ear:

1) The Outer Ear:

The most external or visible portion of the ear is called outer ear. The outer ear includes:
a) Pinna (auricle)
b) Auditory canal
c) Ear drum (also called the tympanic membrane).

1. Pinna:

Pinna is also called auricle. It is that

projecting part of the external ear often referred to
simply as The Ear.

2. Auditory Canal: is the tunnel that leads from the outside head inward to
the Eardrum.

In simple words we can say that: the narrow

passageway from the outer ear to the eardrum.

3. Ear Drum:

The tympanic membrane is

commonly
called the ear drum. The Pinna helps direct sound through the ear canal to the
eardrum.Ear drum vibrates when sound waves hit it.

2) The Middle ear

The middle ear also called tympanic
cavity. It is a cavity
that is filled with air and contains
three tiny interconnected bones on
inner side of Eardrum. The names
the three bones are:

a) Hammer (malleus)
b) Anvil( incus)
c) Stirrup(stapes)

the
of

These bones have

one function, to transmit vibrations to

the oval window that is a
thin membrane leading to the inner ear.

Eardrum MalleusIncusStapesOval Window

3) The Inner Ear

The Inner ear is made up of cavities and tunnels that are filled with liquid and embedded
in bones.
a) Two membranes, the round window and the oval window, separate the
middle ear and inner ear.

Sound comes into the inner ear as vibrations and enters the cochlea.

b) Cochlea: A small, coiled tube in the inner ear look like a snail. The cochlea is
filled with liquid, which is set into motion, like a wave, when the ossicles
vibrate.

Inside the cochlea is the Basilar Membrane (structure that runs through the
cochlea)

b) Basilar Membrane: it is covered with tiny cells covered in tiny hairs. When
these hair cells are bent by the Vibrations entering the Cochlea, a neural signal
is transmitted to the brain.
c) Semicircular Canal: In the inner ear, there are three small loops above the
cochlea called semicircular canals. Like the cochlea, they are also filled with
liquid and have thousands of microscopic hairs.
When you move your head, the liquid in the semicircular canals moves, too. The
liquid moves the tiny hairs, which send a nerve message to your brain about the
position of your head. In less than a second, your brain sends messages to the
right muscles so that you keep your balance.
In simply we can say that function of semicircular canal is to maintain the
balance of the body.