What is sound? Sound is caused by vibrations. The pitch and volume of the sound that is produced is determined by the size and speed of these vibrations. Students will enjoy using the following activities to create diagrams and understand sound waves and their uses.
Structure of the Ear Diagram - anatomy of the ear - human inner ear parts
Storyboard Text
The Pinna The pinna a flap of skin and cartilage collects sound waves and funnels them into the ear canal.
The Ear Canal The ear canal is a tube that connects the pinna to the eardrum.
The Eardrum The eardrum is a thin membrane that separates the outer ear and the inner ear. Sound waves that travel down the ear canal make it vibrate.
The Auditory Ossicles The auditory ossicles are small bones that carry the vibrations from the eardrum to the cochlea. They amplify the vibrations. The three bones are called the hammer, the anvil, and the stirrup. They are some of the smallest bones in the human body.
The Cochlea The cochlea is a spiral-shaped chamber that is filled with liquid and lined with hairs. It converts the vibrations into electrical signals.
The Auditory Nerve connects the cochlea to the brain. It carries the electrical signals to the brain.