Hearing

Definition

Hearing is the process by which sound waves are converted into electrical signals and interpreted by the brain. It involves the interaction of physical, physiological, and neurological processes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sound waves enter the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate.
2. These vibrations are transmitted through three small bones in the middle ear: the malleus, incus, and stapes.
3. The inner ear contains the cochlea, a fluid-filled structure that converts mechanical vibrations into electrical signals.
4. Hair cells within the cochlea play a crucial role in transducing sound vibrations into neural impulses.
5. The auditory nerve carries these neural impulses to the brain where they are interpreted as sound.

Review Questions

• What is the role of hair cells in hearing?
• How do sound waves travel from the outer ear to the inner ear?
• What is the function of the cochlea in hearing?

Related terms

Sound Waves:

Oscillations of air pressure that propagate through a medium such as air or water.

Cochlea:

A spiral-shaped cavity in the inner ear that transforms sound vibrations into neural signals.

Auditory Nerve:

The nerve that transmits auditory information from the cochlea to the brain.