Basic Human Anatomy

11-30. GENERAL

11-30. GENERAL

The human ear serves two major special sensory functions--hearing (auditory) and equilibrium (balance). The stimulus for hearing is sound waves. The stimulus for equilibrium is gravitational forces.

a. Methods of Sound Transmission. The sound stimulus is transmitted in a variety of ways. Regardless of the actual transmission method, the sound stimulus is unchanged. Sound may be transmitted as:

(1) Airborne waves. These airborne waves have frequency (pitch) and amplitude (loudness or intensity).

(2) Mechanical oscillations (vibrations) of structures.

(3) Fluid-borne pressure pulses.

(4) Electrical impulses along the neurons to and in the brain.

b. Sections of the Human Ear (figure 11-12). The human ear has three major parts. Each part serves a specific function in the transmission and reception of the sound stimulus. The three parts are known as the external (outer) ear, the middle ear, and the internal (inner) ear.

Primary Content Providers: The U. S. Army, The U.S. Navy
Ancillary Content and Online Version: David L. Heiserman
Publisher: SweetHaven Publishing Services