How the Ear Works

All sounds begin with vibratory waves traveling through a medium, such as air. These vibratory waves, called compressions and rarefactions, travel through the ear canal and eventually reach our eardrums. The vibrations cause the eardrum to vibrate. Attached to the eardrum are three tiny bones: the Malleus (or the hammer), the Incus (or the anvil), and the Stapes (or the stirrup). The stirrup is attached to the inner ear where the cochlea is located. The cochlea is a fluid filled organ that houses tiny hair cells. Vibrations within the cochlea stimulate tiny hair cells, which cause electrical impulses. These electrical impulses are sent via the 8th auditory nerve to the brain where they are perceived as sound.