Ear, Nose and Throat
Center

The ear consists of an entire system responsible for the collection and early processing of sound. This systems includes the outer ear, the ear canal, the eardrum, the middle ear and inner ear (cochlea), the hearing nerve, and the eustachian tube. Hearing occurs when sound waves strike the eardrum, sending vibrations to the inner ear. There, the sound is transformed into nerve impulses that then travel to the brain.

The ear has two main passageways. The outer ear canal connects the middle and inner ear with the outside world; the eustachian tube runs from the middle ear to the back of the nasal cavity, providing a way to equalize air pressure. Semicircular canals a the top of the ear help us maintain our balance.

For our ears to be healthy, air in the middle ear must be at the same atmospheric pressure as air outside the ear. Air reaches the middle ear via the eustachian tube, which is connected to the back of the nose. Air passes through this tube to equalize pressure 1,000 times a day.