University of Chicago

The anatomy of the human auditory system comprises several anatomical structures that capture sound waves and transmit them inward. Sound waves initially enter the auditory canal. The visible external ear includes the pinna, which leads to the tympanic membrane (eardrum). Beyond this are the ossicles, which consist of the malleus, incus, and stapes. Further inward, a close-up of the inner ear reveals additional structures, including the semicircular canals, utricle, saccule, oval window, cochlea, basilar membrane, and hair cells.

Anatomy of the Auditory System

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

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The pinna is the visible, external part of the ear comes out of the head.

Pinna

Tympanic Membrane

The ossicles are comprised of three small bones in the middle ear. These bones are:
1. Malleus (Hammer)
2. Incus (Anvil)
3. Stapes (Stirrup)

Ossicles

Hair cells are embedded in the basilar membrane and become enlarged due to the movement of fluid inside the cochlea. Once enlarged, they send neural impulses to the brain via the auditory nerve.

Hair Cells

The basilar membrane is a structure that has hair cells embedded within it. These hair cells become enlarged when fluid inside the cochlea moves.

Basilar Membrane

The auditory canal is the passageway in the outer ear that funnels sound waves from the environment towards the eardrum, initiating the process of hearing.

Auditory Canal

Arrange the following structures of the ear in the order that a sound wave's energy travels through them, from the point it enters the ear to where it is converted into a neural signal.

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