Ears are not just the squidgy flaps on each side of your head. They’re way more complicated! As well as allowing you to hear, they also help your balance, and stop you from falling over!
The parts you can see are called the outer ears. They’re like goal posts, collecting lots of sounds. These go into the middle ear. Here you’ll find your eardrum and three ossicles (tiny bones), plus the hammer. The hammer’s not the kind you’ll find in the garage at home. It’s actually another small bone – you’ve also got an anvil, incus and stirrup in each ear! This part of the ear transfers the vibrations caused by sounds into the deepest part of the ear.
The inner ear’s where the vibrations hit a curly tube, called the cochlea. This is filled with a special liquid that helps turn the vibrations into signals that your brain can understand.
Did you know?
Ear wax is made in the ear to protect the inside of the ear from dust and dirt. It’s smell stops creepy crawlies and insects from entering the ear!
