How We Hear

Outer Ear

Your outer ear includes your pinna and ear canal. The pinna is the part of your ear that you see on the sides of your head. It is made up of cartilage and soft tissue (not bone) that help it keep its shape and stay flexible. Sounds go into the pinna and down your ear canal. The pinna helps you figure out which direction sounds come from.

Middle Ear

Your eardrum is at the end of your ear canal. This is where your middle ear starts. Your middle ear has three tiny bones in it, called ossicles. These three bones form a chain from the eardrum to the inner ear.

When sounds hit your eardrum, the eardrum moves back and forth, moving the small bones and sending a signal to the inner ear. The amount of movement varies depending on the pitch and loudness of the sound.

Inner Ear

Your inner ear helps with both hearing and balance. The cochlea is the hearing part of the inner ear. The semicircular canals are part of your balance system.

The cochlea is bony and looks like a snail. It’s filled with fluid and lined with tiny hair cells. When the bones in your middle ear move, the fluid in your inner ear starts to move. This movement triggers the hair cells. Different hair cells move for different sounds.

The hair cell movement creates an electrical signal. This signal travels along your auditory nerve to your brain. Your brain understands these electrical signals as sounds. Your brain figures out what the sounds mean and how to respond.

The parts of your inner ear that help with balance share the same space and fluid as the cochlea. These parts are the semicircular canals, utricle, and saccule.

Hearing Loss

One or more parts of the ear may not work the way they should. If you ever notice changes in your hearing or balance, you should consult an audiologist or your doctor. Early support and treatment can make a big difference.

To find an audiologist near you, visit ProFind.