Anatomy of the ear and how we hear

the cochlea, “uncoiled” for clarity waves f of air ‘ pressure oval window L vestibular duct waves of fluid pressure r , ,Ii \5 l I eardrum , \K cochlear duct tympanlc duct round window 9 Pressure waves are transferred to fluid inside the ducts of the cochlea (shown here uncoiled). vestibular duct cochlear duct organ of Corti tectorial membrane basilar membrane tympanic duct neurons (to ’ 6 Movement of the basilar membrane (the floor the auditory A of the cochlear duct) bends hair cells against the nerve) ‘ organ of Corti’s tectorial membrane. This bending causes hair cells to fire. The action potentials travel 0 Pressure waves are detected by the organ of Corti in the cochlear duct. along the auditory nerve to the brain.