Auditory system facts for kids
This is a left human ear
The auditory system is the sensory system for the sense for hearing. The sense organ for hearing is the ear.
Structure of the ear
Outer ear
The outer ear is the folds of cartilage surrounding the ear canal. They are called the pinna.
Middle ear
Sound waves travelling through the ear canal will hit the tympanum, or eardrum. The malleus (hammer), incus (anvil) and stapes (stirrup). These bones convert the waves to high pressure vibrations. They are then converted to nerve impulses in the cochlea.
Inner ear
The inner ear is made mostly of the cochlea. The cochlea is made up of three pieces, and is filled with liquid. It transforms sound waves to electric signals in neurons. The semicircular canals of the inner ear are used in equilibrioception, the sense of balance.
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Auditory system Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.