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    Grade 12 Life Science The Ear PDF

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    Lethabo Mngomezulu
    The human ear is responsible for both hearing and balance. Sound waves enter the ear and are amplified by the ossicles in the middle ear before causing vibrations in the cochlea that are interpreted as sound. The semi-circular canals and sacculus detect changes in movement and position, transmitting signals to the cerebellum to maintain balance. Common hearing defects include middle ear infections, which cause pain from pressure buildup, and deafness from injury or other causes treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants.

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    Grade 12 Life Science The Ear PDF

    Uploaded by

    Lethabo Mngomezulu
    4K views5 pages
    The human ear is responsible for both hearing and balance. Sound waves enter the ear and are amplified by the ossicles in the middle ear before causing vibrations in the cochlea that are interpreted as sound. The semi-circular canals and sacculus detect changes in movement and position, transmitting signals to the cerebellum to maintain balance. Common hearing defects include middle ear infections, which cause pain from pressure buildup, and deafness from injury or other causes treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants.

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    The human ear is responsible for both hearing and balance. Sound waves enter the ear and are amplified by the ossicles in the middle ear before causing vibrations in the cochlea that are interpreted as sound. The semi-circular canals and sacculus detect changes in movement and position, transmitting signals to the cerebellum to maintain balance. Common hearing defects include middle ear infections, which cause pain from pressure buildup, and deafness from injury or other causes treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    4K views5 pages

    Grade 12 Life Science The Ear PDF

    Uploaded by

    Lethabo Mngomezulu
    The human ear is responsible for both hearing and balance. Sound waves enter the ear and are amplified by the ossicles in the middle ear before causing vibrations in the cochlea that are interpreted as sound. The semi-circular canals and sacculus detect changes in movement and position, transmitting signals to the cerebellum to maintain balance. Common hearing defects include middle ear infections, which cause pain from pressure buildup, and deafness from injury or other causes treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants.

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    Responding to the environment

    The ear
    Terminology & definitions:
    Mechanoreceptors: The Organs of Corti are receptors located in the cochlea of the
    ear, which are stimulated by sound waves and convert the sound waves into
    impulses.
    Ossicles: Three little bones called the hammer, anvil and stirrup located in the
    middle ear and that function to amplify sound.
    Otis media: inflammation and infection of the middle ear which causes pressure on
    the eardrum.
    The Human Ear:
    The ears are the sense organs for hearing. Mechanoreceptors in the ear are
    stimulated by sound waves, which are converted to impulses. The impulses are
    transmitted via sensory neurons to the auditory centre in the cerebral cortex of the
    brain where they are interpreted. The ears are also the organs for balance and
    equilibrium. These impulses are transmitted via sensory neurons to the cerebellum
    where they are interpreted to ensure balance and equilibrium.

    Functioning of the human ear - path of sound:


    Sound waves move from the vibrating source (for example, a person talking or a car
    driving past) in horizontal waves. Humans hear sounds with a vibration frequency of
    between 16 and 20 000 Hz.

    Part of ear Function during hearing process

    Pinna Traps the sound waves and directs them


    into the auditory canal
    Tympanic membrane (ear drum) Vibrates to the frequency of the sound
    waves and transmits the vibration to the
    ossicles in the middle ear
    Ossicles  The three ossicles (the hammer,
    anvil and stirrup) amplify the
    vibrations
     The stirrup passes the vibration
    through the oval window, into the
    inner ear
    Oval window Vibrates and causes pressure wave
    movements in the liquid of the perilymph
    in the inner ear to the endolymph inside
    the cochlea
    Cochlea These vibrations cause the sensory cells
    in the Organ of Corti (the
    mechanoreceptors) to brush or bend
    against the membranes converting the
    stimulus into an impulse
    Auditory nerve Transmits the impulse to the cerebrum
    where the sensation of sound is
    perceived and interpreted
    Round window Excess vibrations are passed out
    through the round window, to prevent
    pressure and echoes

    Balance and equilibrium:


    The human ear is responsible for maintaining balance.
     The semi-circular canals each have a swelling called the ampulla. The ampulla
    contains fine sensory hair cells called crista. When there is a change in speed or
    direction, the crista are stimulated and a nerve impulse is discharged. This
    impulse is transmitted along the auditory nerve to the cerebellum where it is
    interpreted. The cerebellum will send impulses to the muscles, to restore
    balance.

     The sacculus and utriculus contain sensory hair cells called maculae. When
    the head position changes, the pull of gravity stimulates the maculae, which
    convert the stimulus into an impulse, transmitted along the auditory nerve to the
    cerebellum where it is interpreted. The cerebellum will send impulses to the
    muscles, to restore balance.

    Hearing defects:

    Hearing defect: Causes: Treatment:

    Middle ear infection Middle ear becomes infected  inserting grommets


    (called otitis media) with bacteria. Pressure builds (allows excess fluid to
    up (pus and excess fluid) in the drain from middle ear)
    middle ear behind the ear drum,  antibiotics
    causing extreme pain.
    Deafness  Injury to parts of the ear,  Hearing aids (amplify
    (‘hearing nerves or parts of the brain. sounds)
    impairment’, ‘hard of  Hardened wax collected in  Cochlear implants
    hearing’ or the auditory canal (stimulates the auditory
    ‘deafness’)  Hardening of ear tissue like nerves with an
    around ossicles electronic field, inside
    the cochlea)

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