The human ear is a complex organ that helps with hearing and balance, and is made up of three main parts: the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear:
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Outer ear
Also called the pinna or auricle, this part of the ear is made of cartilage and skin, and includes glands that produce earwax. The shape of the outer ear helps collect sound waves.
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Middle ear
This air-filled cavity contains three small bones called the ossicles, which transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.
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Inner ear
Also known as the labyrinth of the ear, this part contains the cochlea and semicircular canals. The cochlea is the organ of hearing, while the semicircular canals help with balance.
The ear is a transducer, which means it converts one form of energy into another. In the case of the ear, sound pressure in the air is converted into a neural-electrical signal that the brain interprets as speech, music, or noise.
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