BETA
Chapter 1
The outer and middle ear
Chapter 2
The inner ear and the brain
Chapter 3
The balance system
Chapter 4
Hearing health and sound limits
YOUR GOAL
Master of The human ear
Ch 1 · The outer and middle ear
artiteacher Play this interactive game to explore how the outer and middle ear function. Learn about hearing and balance while testing your anatomy knowledge.
artiteacher The outer and middle ear
Malleus and incus, / tapping on the stapes, / turn the whisper up!
artiteacher The malleus, incus, and stapes are the three smallest bones in the human body, working together to amplify sound.
artiteacher The tympanic membrane, or eardrum, is an ultra-thin membrane that vibrates when struck by incoming sound waves.
Fun Fact
Ear bone size: The three bones of the middle ear can all fit together on the surface of a single dime.
Glossary
tympanic membrane (noun)
A thin, semitransparent membrane separating the external ear canal from the tympanic cavity that vibrates in response to sound waves. Hermann von Helmholtz analyzed its mechanical transformer action in his 1869 treatise.
A thin, semitransparent membrane separating the external ear canal from the tympanic cavity that vibrates in response to sound waves. Hermann von Helmholtz analyzed its mechanical transformer action in his 1869 treatise.
Quiz
By approximately how many times do the middle ear bones amplify sound pressure?