The External and Middle Ear

Sound travels down the external auditory canal,
causing the tympanic membrane to vibrate.
The vibrating tympanic membrane (ear drum) causes the three middle ear bones, the incus, malleus, and stapes to move.
The stapes is attached to the cochlea, inside of which we find the sensory cells.

Some Interesting Facts

The middle ear bones are the smallest bones in your body.
The amplitude of their vibrations for just-audible sounds is comparable to the diameter of a hydrogen atom!
The cochlea is encased in the hardest bone in your body.

Back to auditory neuroscience.

Don H. Johnson 3/16/97