The ear is looked upon as a miniature receiver, amplifier and signal-processing system. The structure of the outer ear catching sound waves as they move into the external auditory canal. The sound waves then hit the eardrum and the pressure of the air causes the drum to vibrate back and forth. When the eardrum vibrates its neighbour the malleus then vibrates too. The vibrations are then transmitted from the malleus to the incus and then to the stapes. Together the three bones increase the pressure which in turn pushes the membrane of the oval window in and out. This movement sets up fluid pressure waves in the perilymph of the cochlea. The bulging of the oval window then pushes on the perilymph of the scala vestibuli. From here the pressure waves are transmitted from the scala vestibuli to the scala tympani and then eventually finds its way to the round window. This causes the round window to bulge outward into the middle ear. The scala vestibuli

This tube is made up of both bone and hyaline cartilage and connects to the middle ear with the nasopharynx which is the upper part of the throat. This is generally closed at the medial end. When swallowing or yawning occurs, it opens. This allows the air to enter or leave the middle ear until the pressure in the middle ear equals the atmospheric pressure. When both pressures are balanced, the eardrum then vibrates freely as the sound waves hit it. If these pressures are not balanced, an intense pain, hearing impairment, ringing in the ears or vertigo could develop.

Some topics in this essay:
Ear Labyrinth-, Equilibrium Equilibrium, Middle Ear, , Outer Ear, middle ear, hair cells, oval window, semicircular canals, sound waves, scala vestibuli, round window, supporting cells, bony labyrinth, outer ear, cochlear duct scala, cells supporting cells, sound waves hit, semicircular canals vestibule, hair cells supporting,