The ear is the organ of hearing. The tympanic membrane divides the external ear from the middle ear. The eustachian tube helps to equalize the pressure between the outer ear and the middle ear. Having the same pressure allows for the proper transfer of sound waves. The eustachian tube is lined with mucous, just like the inside of the nose and throat.
Hearing starts with the outer ear.
The eardrum vibrates. The vibrations are then passed to three tiny bones in the middle ear called the ossicles. Once the sound waves reach the inner ear, they are converted into electrical impulses which the auditory nerve sends to the brain. The brain then translates these electrical impulses as sound. Click here to view the Online Resources page of this Web.