How do our ears collect and hear sound?

Answer 1

Hi; I'm an Audiologist.

Here are some links to sites that explain the hearing mechanisms:
http://www.audiology.org/aboutaudiology/consumered/guides/How+We+Hear.htm
http://www.audiology.org/aboutaudiology/consumered/guides/auralmechanics.htm
http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/anatomy/
http://www.westone.com/popup_hearing.html
http://www.oticon.com/eprise/main/Oticon/US_en/SEC_AboutHearing/LearnAboutHearing2/HearingAndHearingLoss/_Index

Answer 2

There are 3 parts to the ear, the outer, middle, and inner ear. Each have a specific function and are required to hear properly. They work in conjunction with the nervous system the relay the message quickly.

Outer ear:
Sound waves are generated and directed by the pinna (also called the auricle, more commonly known as the outer portion of the ear). The waves are sent down the external auditory canal to the tympanic membrane (or tympanum, commonly: the eardrum).

Middle ear:
The tympanum vibrates and moves the malleus, a small bone connected to the tympanum in three places. The movement of the mallues causes the next bone, the incus, to move. The incus is also attached the the stapes. These 3 bones are the smallest in the body. The stapes it firmly bound to a thin membraneous partition called the oval window.

Inner ear:
The oval window is part of the wall of the cochlea. The cochlea is a bony labyrinth that contains a fluid perilymph. The vibration of the oval window causes the perilymph to shift. The perilymph moves the membranous labyrinth (which it surrounds) containing a fluid endolymph. The endolymph covers cells that have small hairs on them, many stereocilia and a single kinocilum. The movement of the fluid causes the stereocilia and kinocilum to move. This movement distorts the cell membrane and releases neurotransmitter.

Nervous system:
This neurotransmitter is picked up by efferent receptors in the Auditory Nerve (also cochlear nerve, vestibulocochlear nerve, or cranial nerve VIII). The auditory nerve transmits the information into the medulla oblongata (part of the brain stem) and decussates (crosses). Then in travels through the pons and midbrain (both parts of the brain stem) to the thalamus in the diencephalon. The thalamus then relays the message to the temporal lobe for processing. (Note: the processing occurs in the side of the brain opposite the ear in which the sound was first heard because the decussation in the medulla).

Answer 3

There are 9 tiny bones in your inner ear.
When soundwaves vibrate in the air they are registered in the outer ear and then amplified through a series of chambers in the inner air; The smallest bone is pivoted over a drum like membrane and the tiny vibrations cause the bone to vibrate and strike this membrane - this is then interpreted as a series of electrical discharges on the nerve endings which is processed in the brain as sound. We cannot hear below a certain wavelength ( Ultrasound and above ( INFRASOUND). Humans have one of the poorest sense of hearing in the animal kingdom.

Answer 4

Our ears have a layer of skin which vibrates when the sound goes to your ear and you brain then makes out what it is so that is how we collect and hear sound.

Answer 5

through teh reflection of sound in ear drum

Answer 6

idk but im listening to tequailla makes her clothes fall of by joe nicole.
yeahhhh good song...