Hearing
Basic function of the ear The ear performs two distinct functions. It is used to detect sounds by receiving vibrations in the air, and secondly, it is responsible for balancing and sensing acceleration. Of these, the listening aspect is more relevant to the maintenance engineer, and thus requires a basic understanding of how the ear works. As can be seen in the figure, the ear has three parts: outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. They receive vibrations from the air and convert these signals into nerve impulses that the brain can recognize as sound. Outer ear: The outer part of the ear directs sound to the auditory canal and eardrum. The sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate. Middle ears: Beyond the eardrum is the middle ear, which transmits vibrations from the eardrum through three small bones known as ossicles , to the inner ear fluid.The acoustic or aural reflex are two muscles in the middle ear that help protect the ear from sounds above 80 dB and reduce...