How does the ear convert sound waves in the air to pressure waves of the fluid in the cochlea?
1 Answer
Please read this answer before reading the next part.
Explanation:
As the sound waves reach ear drum/tympanum, the membranar ear drum starts mechanical vibration.
Eardrum is attached to an ear ossicle, latter is present in middle ear cavity. There are three such small bones/ossicles arranged in sequence: these ear ossicles are
Malleus,
Incus, and
Stapes.
Stapes in turn is juxtaposed on oval window: latter is a membranar doorway leading to inner ear.
Vibrations from eardrum are transferred to ear ossicles and finally to oval window.
Tympanum (8mm to 10mm in diameter) is much larger in size compared to the oval window (only 2.5 sq mm in area). This is why when vibrations reach oval window, it is naturally amplified.
Oval window vibrates to transfer the pressure in perilymph of cochlea. Vibrations of fluid in cochlea ultimately helps in developing nerve impulse.
Please read the link about structure of cochlea for better understanding.
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