Ears are the important features of our face. It is one of the sensitive organs. It is on either side of the face of the human. They detect and analyze sound. In Latin, it is known as Auris.
Anyone would lose their balance without ears. Research has found that the average ear is about 6.3 cm long and the lobe of the average ear is round about 1.88 cm long and 1.96 cm wide. Also, it is observed that the ears get larger with age.
Definition of Ears
The ears are the paired organs that enables us to hear and keep equilibrium. It gives an ability to identify, understand, and reproduce sounds or languages.
Etymology
This word originates from Old English eare of Germanic origin related to Dutch oor and German Indo-European root by Latin auris and Greek ous.
Main Functions of Ears
The main functions are:
- Hearing
- Balancing
Hearing:
When a sound wave enters into ear canal then the tympanic membrane or eardrum starts vibration. This trembling passes onto the 3 little bones in the middle ear.
The ossicles increase and send out these sound waves to the inner ear. When these waves arrive in the inner ear then the tiny hair cells known as stereocilia change the vibrations into electrical energy. They send it with nerve fibers to the brain.
Balancing:
The internal portion of the ear contains semi-circular canals and they are filled with fluid and hair-like sensors. When anybody moves their head then the fluid within these loop-shaped canals sloshes around and moves the hairs.
The hairs send out this information with the vestibular nerve to the brain. At last, the brain sends signals to the muscles to assist anyone to stay balanced. The sense of balance of the human body is controlled by 3 sensory systems which are:
- Vestibular System
- Vision
- Proprioception
Anatomy of Ears
The ears of the human are made up of three parts which are:
- Outer Ear
- Middle Ear
- Inner Ear
Outer Ear:
This is the external part that can be seen. It is funnel-shaped. This part is made up of cartilage and skin. The function of this portion is to collect sound waves.
After that, they shift them into the ear canal where the sound enlarges. Then, sound waves travel to a stretchy oval membrane at the end of the ear canal known as the tympanic membrane. Sound waves cause the vibration of the eardrum. It is made up of:
- Pinna
- Ear Canal
- Eardrum/Tympanic Membrane
Middle Ear:
This part is like a narrow box with curved sides. The function of the portion is to take sound waves from the outer ear to the inner ear which contains the cochlea and where sound input can be communicated to the brain.
Sound waves enter into this part and hit the tympanic membrane causing it to vibrate. This part is made up of 3 small bones include:
- Hammer: It is also as popular as Malleus and attached to the eardrum.
- Anvil: Also, it is recognized as Incus and is in the center of the chain of bones.
- Stirrup: It is famous as Stapes: It joins the middle ear to the inner ear.
Inner Ear:
In this part, the sound waves change into electrical energy. So, the hearing nerve delivers to the brain as sound making it possible for all to hear. Simultaneously, it observes our movement.
It alerts our brain about the changes so that our brain can inform our body what to do to keep on balance. It is made up of:
- Cochlea
- Semi-Circular Canals/ Labyrinth
- Vestibule
Synonyms/Similar Words
- Organ of Hearing
- Lug
- Earhole
- Lughole
- Shell-like
Antonyms
- Be deaf to
- Turn a deaf ear to
- Ignore
- Neglect
- Disregard
- Pay no heed to
- Take no notice of
Phrases Containing Ears
- Earful
- Walls have ears
- Play by ear
- All Ears
- Give ear to
- Music to my ears
- Lend an ear
- Ear candy
- Fall on deaf ears
- Ears pinned back
Disorders of Ears
- Deafness
- Ear Infection
- Hearing loss
- Barotrauma
- Hypercusis
- Otitis media
- Menieres disease
- Tinnitus
- Vestibular neuronitis
- Ear wax
- Vertigo
- Otosclerosis
- Earache
- Labyrinthitis
- Mastoiditis
Examples
- Ali’s ears were turning red.
- Saba has pierced ears.
- Ahmad whispered something in Sana’s ears.
- Sara used her ears to hear.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What does the Ears app do?
EARS (Effortless Assessment Research System) is a behavioral research tool. It permits the researchers to conduct constant distant research using the personal smartphone of the participant.
What are the functions of the hearing organ?
- Detecting Sound
- Transmitting Sound
- Transducing Sound
How much is the range of hearing in human ears?
20Hz to 20,000Hz.
How can I draw ears in my notebook?
- Step 1: Draw the shape of an ear
- Step 2: Draw the bumps and folds
- Step 3: Shading Preparation
- Step 4: Shade the darkest areas
- Step 5: Add normal and light tones
Mention some of the facts about hearing organs.
- They assist in regulating the pressure changes.
- They never sleep
- They keep growing with age
- They are self-cleaning