what is the eardrum made of?

Answer 1

The eardrum itself is called a "membrane" which means it is like a thin piece of material stretched tight over the ear canal and it separates the middle ear from the outer ear. In biology a membrane is a layer that separates two structures - in this case, the middle ear and the outer ear. Think of it as a thin piece of skin stretched over the ear canal. It is like the top of a drum - sounds bounce off it.

I hope this helps. It is really difficult to explain exactly what the eardrum is made of!!!
I hope this helps.

Answer 2

The ear can be divided into three basic areas. The outer ear refers to the ear canal that is approximately one inch in length and ends at the level of the eardrum (known as the tympanic membrane). The eardrum identifies the beginning of the middle ear, which is a cavity in the bone of the skull that houses the three bones of hearing (known as ossicles). The bone completely surrounding the ear structures that forms a large part of the skull base is known as the temporal bone. The first bone of hearing is attached to the underneath side of the eardrum and is shaped somewhat like a hammer. This bone is called the malleus. The second bone is in the shape of an anvil, and is the incus. The third bone of hearing, known as the stapes, is shaped like a stirrup. These three bones are connected to one another and have the ability to vibrate, or move back and forth. The base of the stapes bone (known as the footplate) is situated at the junction of the middle and inner ear. The inner ear is a separate cavity or space deeper in the temporal bone but, unlike the middle ear, is fluid-filled. This structure consists of a series of curved channels or chambers that can, in turn, be divided into two basic components. The cochlea is shaped like a snail shell and is the part of the inner ear concerned with hearing. The semicircular canals (of which there are three) are shaped like arcs or loops and are responsible for the balance function of the inner ear. On the deep aspect of the inner ear the nerves of hearing and balance exit and travel to the brain.

When sound waves enter the ear canal, they are directed down to the eardrum. These pressure waves then hit the eardrum, causing it to vibrate. This, in turn, leads to vibration of the ossicles. The footplate of the stapes bone is located over an opening into the inner ear and forms a seal that allows for some movement. When the footplate vibrates, it causes movement of the fluid within the cochlea of the inner ear. This fluid movement is detected by very delicate hair cells and nerve endings within the inner ear. From there, the information travels as electrical impulses along the nerve of hearing to the brain.


The balance mechanism of the inner ear responds to head position. With any type of movement, the fluid in the semicircular canals is set into motion. This is detected by the hair cells and nerve endings of the balance nerve, leading to electrical impulses within the nerve that are transmitted to the brain.

Answer 3

The ear drum, or tympanic membrane, is made up three layers. An outer covering of squamous epithelium, a middle layer of connective tissue and an inner layer of mucous epithelium.

The outer squamous epithelium grows from the center outward. As these cells become more keratinized and are ready to be shed (like skin elsewhere on your body) they move toward the perimeter of the drum and onto the lining of the external auditory canal. The accumulation of these dead keratinized epithelial cells in the canal is what we know as ear wax.

Answer 4

some kind of membrane - the smallest bone is in the ear but not sure what is called - ossicle or something like that. but the eardrum is a very thin membrane

Answer 5

it is made of a small membrane called the ocular membrane the smallest bone in the body is the hammer in the ear and on the ocular membrane is a little vilage and they eat sound waves that come into ur ear and crap out electircal impluses that the brain can under stand and thats how u can hear jk well the first part was right

Answer 6

The smallest bone in the ear of course!..

Answer 7

Small bones
Isn't the smallest bone in the ear?

Answer 8

It's a bone

Answer 9

I am sure but I think it is a muscle.

Answer 10

Try this, all the best