Inner Ear
Inner Ear
The Inner Ear (pronunciation: /ˈɪnər ɪər/) is the innermost part of the vertebrate ear. In vertebrates, the inner ear is mainly responsible for sound detection and balance.
Etymology
The term "Inner Ear" is derived from the Old English 'innan', meaning 'inside' and the Old English 'eare', meaning 'ear'.
Anatomy
The inner ear consists of two main structures: the cochlea, which is involved in hearing, and the vestibular system, which is involved in balance. The cochlea is a spiral-shaped structure that converts sound vibrations from the middle ear into electrical signals. The vestibular system consists of three semicircular canals and two otolith organs (the utricle and saccule).
Function
The primary role of the inner ear is to convert physical vibrations caused by auditory or kinetic stimuli into electrical signals for the brain to interpret. The cochlea accomplishes this for sounds, while the vestibular system does this for motion and equilibrium.
Related Terms
- Cochlea: The spiral-shaped part of the inner ear that is responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals.
- Vestibular System: The part of the inner ear involved in maintaining balance and spatial orientation.
- Utricle and Saccule: Two structures within the vestibular system that detect linear movements and head position.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Inner Ear
- Wikipedia's article - Inner Ear
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