øreanatomi

The anatomy of the ear is a complex system responsible for hearing and balance. It is generally divided into three main parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear.

The outer ear consists of the auricle, also known as the pinna, and the external auditory canal. The auricle is the visible, cartilaginous part of the ear that helps collect sound waves and direct them into the ear canal. The auditory canal is a tube that transmits these sound waves to the eardrum.

The middle ear begins at the eardrum, a thin membrane that vibrates when struck by sound waves. Behind the eardrum are three small bones called ossicles: the malleus, incus, and stapes. These bones amplify the vibrations from the eardrum and transmit them to the oval window, an opening to the inner ear. The middle ear also contains the Eustachian tube, which connects to the nasopharynx and helps equalize pressure on either side of the eardrum.

The inner ear is the most complex part, containing both the cochlea, responsible for hearing, and the vestibular system, responsible for balance. The cochlea is a spiral-shaped cavity filled with fluid. Vibrations entering the cochlea cause fluid movement, which stimulates tiny hair cells. These hair cells convert mechanical vibrations into electrical signals that are sent to the brain via the auditory nerve, where they are interpreted as sound. The vestibular system, composed of the semicircular canals and the vestibule, also contains fluid and hair cells that detect head movements and position, sending this information to the brain for balance and spatial orientation.