The ear comprises the following parts:

• Outer ear (yellow)
• Middle ear (violet)
• Inner ear (blue)

The outer ear

The auricle gathers the sound waves which are directed through the channel to the eardrum.

The middle ear

The eardrum transmits the sound waves mechanically via small bones – the malleus, incus and stapes – to a thin membrane - covered opening on the wall of the inner ear.   

The inner ear

The inner ear comprises the following parts:

• Cochlea processing the auditory input
• Semicircular canals processing the information affecting the balance

Along the entire length of the fluid filled cochlea there are tiny hair cells which are bent when the fluid is displaced by sound waves passed from the middle ear bones. The bent hair cells activate nerve endings transmitting the message to the brain for processing.