kuulmismehhanismid

Kuulmismehhanismid refer to the biological processes by which organisms detect and interpret sound. In humans and other vertebrates, this process begins with the collection of sound waves by the outer ear, specifically the auricle or pinna, which channels the sound into the ear canal. These sound waves then cause the tympanic membrane, or eardrum, to vibrate.

The vibrations are transmitted through the middle ear by three small bones known as the ossicles: the malleus, incus, and stapes. The stapes is attached to the oval window, a membrane-covered opening into the inner ear. Vibrations passing through the oval window cause fluid within the cochlea, a spiral-shaped structure in the inner ear, to move.

Within the cochlea, specialized sensory cells called hair cells are located on the basilar membrane. The movement of the cochlear fluid stimulates these hair cells, which then convert the mechanical vibrations into electrical signals. These electrical signals are transmitted via the auditory nerve to the brain, where they are processed and interpreted as sound. Different frequencies of sound stimulate hair cells at different locations within the cochlea, allowing for pitch discrimination. The intensity of the sound is encoded by the rate and number of hair cells that are activated. The complexity of these mechanisms allows for a wide range of auditory perception.