How the Ear Works

6th Grade Science

Parts of the Ear

The ear is divided into 3 main parts: Outer Ear Middle Ear Inner Ear

The Outer Ear*

Contains: pinna (lobe), ear canal, & ear drum.

The Middle Ear*

Contains 3 bones: hammer, anvil, & stirrup.

The Inner Ear*

Contains: cochlea and auditory nerve.

Label the Parts of the Ear*

Pinna Ear Canal

Eardrum Auditory Nerve

Cochlea

Hammer Anvil Stirrup

Outer Ear

Middle Ear

Inner Ear

How Does the Ear Work?

Animation 1

Animation 2

Animation 3

Steps to Hearing:*

1. Vibrations move through the outer ear canal and vibrate the eardrum.

2. The eardrum passes its energy through a chain of three tiny bones, the anvil, hammer, and stirrup, in the middle of the ear.

3. The anvil, hammer, and stirrup pass the energy onto the cochlea.

4. The vibrations activate hair cells and fluid inside the cochlea.

5. Electrical signals are sent to the brain through the auditory nerve.

Video on how the ear works:

A Black Box Problem : How Do I Hear?

http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih3/hearing/activities/lesson4.htm

Storyboard – Sound traveling to the brain. On a sheet of copy paper, you will create a

storyboard (comic) that illustrates how sound waves travel from a source to your brain.

You can choose any sound you want. You must have at least 11 boxes in your

comic…see example. Lots of creativity and color!!!

Storyboard parts.STEPS

1. Object making a sound 6. Vibrating the anvil

2. Sound entering Pinna 7. Vibrating the stirrup

3. Sound traveling down ear canal 8. vibrating/tapping on cochlea

4. Waves vibrating ear drum 9. Sending message through auditory nerve

5. Vibrating the hammer 10. Reaching the brain

11. Person’s reaction to sound!