Fact Sheet: How the Ear Works
 

Annual Meeting &
OTO EXPO

Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO September 26-29, 2010, Boston, MA

Save the date: Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO September 26-29, 2010, Boston, MA
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Fact Sheet: How the Ear Works

The ear has three main parts: the outer, middle and inner ear. The outer ear (the part you can see) opens into the ear canal. The eardrum separates the ear canal from the middle ear. Small bones in the middle ear help transfer sound to the inner ear. The inner ear contains the auditory (hearing) nerve, which leads to the brain.

Any source of sound sends vibrations or sound waves into the air. These funnel through the ear opening, down the ear, canal, and strike your eardrum, causing it to vibrate. The vibrations are passed to the small bones of the middle ear, which transmit them to the hearing nerve in the inner ear. Here, the vibrations become nerve impulses and go directly to the brain, which interprets the impulses as sound (music, voice, a car horn, etc.).

Related Pages:

Ears and Altitude
Earwax
Fact Sheet: A Quick Glossary for Good Ear Health
Fact Sheet: Better Ear Health
Fact Sheet: Know the Power of Sound
Noise and Hearing Protection

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About Otolaryngology

Otolaryngology is the oldest medical specialty in the Untied States

Otolaryngology (pronounced oh/toe/lair/in/goll/oh/jee) is the oldest medical specialty in the United States. Otolaryngologists are commonly referred to as ENT physicians.

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ENT History

1546 Account published of first documented successful tracheotomy
1806 Dutrochet introduces concept of vocal cord movement
1898 Carbon-type hearing aid first produced
1924 Otolaryngology specialty board (second such board in U.S.) is formed
1984 FDA approves first cochlear implant for marketing
1988 First wearable digital signal processing hearing aid produced

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American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery

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