the hearing process - part 1
Sound consists of vibrations that travel in waves through the air, ground or
some other surface. Sounds vary in frequency and intensity. They enter the
external auditory canal of the outer ear and strike the eardrum, causing it to
vibrate. The vibrations from the eardrum then flow across the three auditory
ossicles of the middle ear, from the malleus to the incus and then to the
stapes. The footplate of the stapes vibrates within the oval window, which
lies between the middle and inner ears. These movements of the footplates
create waves in the fluid that fills the ducts of the cochlea of the inner
ear. Besides transmitting sound waves to the oval window, the auditory
ossicles of the ear amplify the waves. Sound waves do not travel as easily
through the cochlear fluid of the inner ear as they do through the air but
amplification of the sound waves make up for this. Sound produced by your
voice travels to your inner ears in this way.
