1. Ears and Hearing Protection
Your ears and brain work together.
They allow you to hear and interpret sounds and form a response, such as turning your head when you hear a friend calling your name.

2. Lesson Objectives In this lesson, you’ll learn to:
Identify the parts of the ear.
Examine the effects of health behaviors on the ears and hearing.
Describe some problems of the ear.

3. Parts of the Ear
Three Main Sections of the Ear

4. Parts of the Ear The Outer Ear The outer ear begins with
the visible part of the ear, the auricle.
The auricle helps channel sound waves into the external auditory canal.
The eardrum acts as a barrier between the outer and middle ear.

5. Parts of the Ear The Middle Ear
Directly behind the eardrum are the auditory ossicles.
The middle ear is connected to the throat by the eustachian tube.
The eustachian tube allows pressure to be equalized on either side of the eardrum when you swallow or yawn.

6. Parts of the Ear The Inner Ear
The labyrinth consists of a network of curved and spiral passages with three main parts.
The cochlea is the area of hearing in the inner ear.
The vestibule and semicircular canals are where balance is controlled.

7. Hearing and Balance How You Hear
When receptors in your inner ear are stimulated by a sound wave, a nerve impulse is sent to your brain.
Your brain interprets the impulse as a sound.
Sound waves enter the external auditory canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate.
The vibrations cause fluid in the cochlea to move, which stimulates receptor cells to send a nerve impulse to the brain where sounds are interpreted.

8. Hearing and Balance Maintaining Balance
Receptor cells in the vestibule and the semicircular canals send messages to the brain about your sense of balance.
Tiny hairs located in the ear sense movement and send nerve impulses to the brain.
The brain then signals muscles to make adjustments to maintain balance.

9. Hearing and Balance Ear Structure and Function
Click image to view movie.

10. Health Behaviors for Healthy Ears
Tips for Healthy Ears
Clean ears regularly and always protect the outer ear from injury and extreme cold.
Wear protective gear such as helmets and hats.
Keep foreign objects out of the ear.
Have your ears
examined and your hearing tested to detect any problems.

11. Conductive Hearing Loss
Problems of the Ear
Hearing Loss
Sound waves are not passed from the outer to the inner ear, usually because of a blockage or injury to the inner ear.
Persistent buildup of fluid within the middle ear, often caused by infection, is most common in children.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Sensorineural Hearing Loss

12. Q. The inner ear is also known as the _________.
Quick Review
Choose the appropriate option.
Q. The inner ear is also known as the _________.
labyrinth
external auditory canal
auricle
eardrum

13. A. The inner ear is also known as the labyrinth.
Quick Review - Answer
A. The inner ear is also known as the labyrinth.
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14. Quick Review
Provide a short answer to the question given below.
Q. Identify the three main parts of the ear and the structures that can be found in each part.
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15. A. The three main parts of the ear are as follows:
Quick Review - Answer
A. The three main parts of the ear are as follows:
Outer ear: It contains the auricle, external auditory canal, and eardrum.
Middle ear: It contains the auditory ossicles and the oval window.
Inner ear: It contains the cochlea, vestibule, and the semicircular canals.
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16. Q. Define the term tinnitus.
Quick Review
Provide a short answer to the question given below.
Q. Define the term tinnitus.
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17. Quick Review - Answer
A. Tinnitus is a condition in which a ringing, buzzing, whistling, roaring, hissing, or other sound is heard in the ear in the absence of external sound.
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18. Quick Review Analyze the following question.
What activities might cause the inner ear to send mixed messages to the brain and result in dizziness and nausea?

19. A. Correct! The inner ear is also known as the labyrinth.
Quick Review - Answer
A. Correct! The inner ear is also known as the labyrinth.
Click Next to attempt another question.

20. Quick Review - Answer
You have answered the question incorrectly. Go back to try again, or click Next to view the correct answer.

21. Conductive Hearing Loss
Problems of the Ear
Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to the cochlea, the auditory nerve, or the brain.
Tinnitus can occur as a result of natural aging, health conditions, or overexposure to loud noise.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Sensorineural Hearing Loss

22. Parts of the Ear The Outer Ear The outer ear begins with
the visible part of the ear, the auricle.
The auricle helps channel sound waves into the external auditory canal.
The eardrum acts as a barrier between the outer and middle ear.
The external auditory canal is a passageway about one inch long that leads to the remaining portion of the outer ear, the eardrum.

23. Parts of the Ear The Middle Ear
Directly behind the eardrum are the auditory ossicles.
The middle ear is connected to the throat by the eustachian tube.
The eustachian tube allows pressure to be equalized on either side of the eardrum when you swallow or yawn.
The auditory ossicles are three small bones linked together that connect the eardrum to the inner ear.

24. Parts of the Ear The Inner Ear
The labyrinth consists of a network of curved and spiral passages with three main parts.
The cochlea is the area of hearing in the inner ear.
The vestibule and semicircular canals are where balance is controlled.
The labyrinth is the inner ear.

25. Conductive Hearing Loss
Problems of the Ear
Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to the cochlea, the auditory nerve, or the brain.
Tinnitus can occur as a result of natural aging, health conditions, or overexposure to loud noise.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Tinnitus is a condition in which a
ringing, buzzing, whistling, roaring, hissing, or other sound is heard in the ear in the absence of external sound.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss