Kuulmekanismis

Kuulmekanismis refers to the complex biological system responsible for the sense of hearing in animals, including humans. This mechanism allows for the detection and interpretation of sound waves, which are vibrations traveling through a medium such as air or water. The process begins when sound waves enter the outer ear, specifically the auricle or pinna, which collects and directs the sound towards the ear canal.

The sound waves then travel down the ear canal to the eardrum, a thin membrane that vibrates in response to the incoming sound. These vibrations are amplified and transmitted to the middle ear by three small bones known as ossicles: the malleus, incus, and stapes. The stapes, the smallest bone in the body, transmits these vibrations to the oval window, an opening into the inner ear.

Within the inner ear lies the cochlea, a spiral-shaped, fluid-filled structure. The vibrations transmitted through the oval window cause the fluid within the cochlea to move, stimulating tiny hair cells. These hair cells convert the mechanical energy of the vibrations into electrical signals. These electrical signals are then transmitted via the auditory nerve to the brain, where they are processed and interpreted as sound. The specific frequency, amplitude, and timing of these signals allow the brain to distinguish different pitches, loudness, and origins of sounds. Disruptions or damage to any part of the kuulmekanismis can lead to various degrees of hearing loss.