Outer & Middle Ear Basics
This part of the outer ear collects sound waves from the environment.
What is the pinna?
This spiral-shaped organ converts sound vibrations into nerve signals.
What is the cochlea?
This 16th-century scientist described the structure of the ear in detail.
Who is Bartolomeo Eustachi?
Earbuds are risky because they are very close to this part of the ear.
What is the inner ear (or eardrum)?
Sounds generally become harmful above this range.
What is 70–85 decibels?
This structure carries sound waves inward after they are collected by the pinna.
What is the Ear Canal?
These sensory receptors inside the cochlea detect sound vibrations.
What are hair cells?
This structure was named after Bartolomeo Eustachi and helps balance ear pressure.
What is the Eustachian tube?
Over time, constant high-volume listening can cause this mental and emotional effect.
What is psychological stress and tension?
This sound level is considered safe for human ears.
What is a quiet whisper (30 dB)?
This is the scientific name for the eardrum.
What is the tympanic membrane?
This nerve carries electrical signals from the ear to the brain.
What is the auditory nerve?
This scientist explained how humans perceive pitch and sound vibrations in the 1800s.
Who is Hermann von Helmholtz?
Using noise-isolating earbuds can cause this problem, where the brain misses important sound cues.
What is impaired spatial awareness?
The “60/60 rule” means listening at 60% volume for no more than this long.
What is 60 minutes?
This zone of the ear is often called the “transforming zone” because vibrations are increased here.
What is the middle ear?
The main job of the ossicles is to do this to sound vibrations.
What is Amplify them?
This scientist is famous for anatomy textbooks, but was not the first to describe the ear in detail.
Who is Andreas Vesalius?
This everyday activity is a known risk factor for hearing loss.
What is hearing loud Noises?
After using earbuds for 60 minutes, this length of break is recommended.
What is 10–15 minutes?
These three tiny bones are also known as the hammer, anvil, and stirrup.
What are the ossicles?
Besides hearing, this is the other major function of the ear.
What is Balance?
This famous scientist did NOT study hearing or sound perception.
Albert Einstein
Listening at high volume for long periods increases hearing damage because of the increased volume.
What is a longer exposure time?
Prolonged exposure above this sound level can cause permanent damage.
What is 85 decibels?