The outer ear is the visible, external portion of the ear and the first point of contact for sound. Its primary function is to capture sound waves from the environment and direct them inward toward the middle ear for processing. It is made up of two key components: the pinna and the ear canal.The ear canal is lined with hairs and glands that secrete wax. This part of the ear provides protection and channels sound. The auricle or pinna is the most visible part of the outer ear and what most people are referring to when they use the word “ear.”

The Pinna
The curved, cartilage-based structure on the outside of the head that most people refer to when they use the word "ear." It acts as a funnel, collecting sound waves from the surrounding environment and directing them into the ear canal.

The ear canal
A narrow passageway lined with hair follicles and wax-secreting glands that leads from the pinna to the eardrum. It channels incoming sound waves toward the middle ear while the ear wax it produces helps protect the ear from dust, debris, and infection.

The middle ear is an air-filled cavity sitting between the eardrum and the inner ear. Its primary function is to convert incoming sound waves into mechanical vibrations and amplify them before passing them deeper into the ear for processing. It consists of three components: the tympanic membrane, the ossicles, and the Eustachian tube.

The Tympanic membrane (eardrum)
The middle ear is separated from the outer ear by the tympanic membrane, otherwise known as the eardrum. The eardrum is a thin piece of tissue stretched tight across the ear canal, so when sounds hit the eardrum, it moves and transfers the sounds deeper into your ear via a series of tiny bones called the malleus, incus, and stapes. Together these bones are called the ossicles. 

The Ossicles 
The ossicles are a chain of three tiny bones, the malleus, incus, and stapes. Together, they transmit and amplify vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. They are the smallest bones in the human body and play a critical role in converting mechanical movement into the signals the inner ear can process.

The Eustachain tube
The Eustachian tube is a narrow canal connecting the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat, and its primary role is to equalise air pressure on both sides of the eardrum. When you swallow or yawn, the tube briefly opens to regulate this pressure and prevent the membrane rom being damaged.

When you get cold and flu symptoms, the Eustachian tube can become blocked with mucus, causing a build-up of pressure and temporary hearing impairment or loss as a result.

The inner ear has both hearing and balance organs. The hearing part of the inner ear is called the cochlea, which contains over 15,000 tiny hair cells. When stimulated, these hairs cells trigger electrical nerve impulses that are sent to the brain via the auditory nerve. From here, the brain then deciphers those impulses as recognisable sounds. 

The cochlea
The cochlea is a fluid-filled, snail-shaped structure that converts mechanical vibrations from the ossicles into electrical signals. It contains over 15,000 tiny hair cells that trigger nerve impulses when stimulated, which are then carried to the brain via the auditory nerve and interpreted as sound. When these hair cells become damaged they cannot regenerate, which can result in permanent hearing loss or a persistent ringing in the ears known as tinnitus.

The organ of Corti
The organ of Corti sits inside the cochlea and is the ear’s primary sensory structure for hearing. It contains the hair cells responsible for translating vibrations into electrical impulses, with different areas of the organ responding to different sound frequencies.

The vestibular system
The vestibular system is the inner ear’s balance mechanism, working alongside the eyes and the brain to maintain spatial awareness and coordination. It also helps us maintain awareness of positioning when walking, running or riding in a vehicle. Using this feedback, the brain sends messages to instruct muscles to move and make the adjustments to body position that will maintain balance and coordination. Disruptions to the vestibular system are a common cause of vertigo and dizziness.