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The ear consists of three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear.
The outer ear consists of both the pinna, or external ear, which captures sound waves and directs them inward, and the ear canal, which leads to the eardrum. In the middle ear, sound waves vibrate through three tiny bones commonly called the hammer (malleus), the anvil (incus), and the stirrup (stapes). The vibrations continue into the inner ear, where a spiral structure called the cochlea transforms them into nerve impulses. These impulses are conveyed to the brain via the auditory nerve.
The semicircular canals (also called the labyrinth) within the inner ear serve as the organ of balance by detecting motion of the head and conveying this information to the brain.
The eustachian tube in the middle ear connects the ear with the nasopharynx (the upper part of the throat). This tube allows the air pressure in the middle ear to equalize with the pressure outside the body, thus helping to prevent rupture of the eardrum. However, the eustachian tube also provides a passageway for infecting micro-organisms to enter the middle ear from the nose or throat.
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.
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The Ear
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Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this How Stuff Works article:
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