Hearing: How our Ears Work

• Biologie
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 2

Hearing: How our Ears Work

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson you will be able to explain how the ear works and describe the different parts of the ear.

This slide sets the learning objective for the lesson.

What do you already know about how our ears work?

Introduction

Our ears are an important tool that we use to hear the world around us. In this lesson, we are going to learn about the different parts of the ear and how they work together to help us hear.

This slide introduces the topic of the lesson and sets the stage for the rest of the presentation.

Outer Ear/ External ear

The outer ear is the part of the ear that we can see. It is made up of the pinna and the ear canal.

This slide describes the outer ear and its components.

Middle Ear

The middle ear is an air-filled space that contains the three smallest bones in the body: the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. These bones are also known as the ossicles.

This slide describes the middle ear and its components.

Inner Ear/ internal ear

The inner ear is made up of the cochlea, the vestibule, and the semicircular canals. These structures work together to convert sound waves into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain.

This slide describes the inner ear and its components.

How We Hear

Sound waves enter the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted through the ossicles to the cochlea in the inner ear. The cochlea converts these vibrations into electrical signals that are sent to the brain.

This slide explains how we hear and describes the process by which sound waves are converted into electrical signals.

Sound Waves

Sound waves are vibrations that travel through the air. They can be high-pitched or low-pitched depending on their frequency. The human ear can detect sounds with frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

Wanita 200 Hz, Pria 100 Hz

This slide explains what sound waves are and describes their properties.

Exercise 

Observe the ear and decide which part is which. 

If your group has found the part, raise your hand. 

The Pinna

The pinna is the visible part of the outer ear. It helps to collect sound waves and direct them into the ear canal.

This slide describes the pinna and its function.

The Ear Canal

The ear canal is a narrow passage that leads from the pinna to the eardrum. It is lined with small hairs and wax-producing glands that help to keep the ear clean.

This slide describes the ear canal and its function.

The Eardrum

The eardrum is a thin, flexible membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear. It vibrates in response to sound waves and transmits these vibrations to the 

This slide describes the eardrum and its function.

The Ossicles

The ossicles are the three smallest bones in the body. They are located in the middle ear and transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the cochlea in the inner ear.

This slide describes the ossicles and their function.

The Cochlea

The cochlea is a spiral-shaped structure in the inner ear. It contains thousands of tiny hair cells that convert sound vibrations into electrical signals that are sent to the brain.

This slide describes the cochlea and its function.

The Semicircular Canals

The semicircular canals are three fluid-filled structures in the inner ear. They are responsible for detecting changes in the position of our head and helping us to maintain our balance.

This slide describes the semicircular canals and their function.

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can occur when any part of the ear is damaged or not functioning properly. It can be caused by exposure to loud noise, infections, or aging.

This slide explains what can cause hearing loss and describes some of the common causes.

Preventing Hearing Loss

You can prevent hearing loss by protecting your ears from loud noise, avoiding ear infections, and getting regular check-ups with an audiologist.

This slide provides tips for preventing hearing loss.

What is the outer ear made up of..?

1. Pinna and ear canal
2. Pinna and hammer
3. Hammer and ear canal
4. Ear canal and anvil

What are the 3 smallest bones of the body?

Conclusion

Our ears are amazing organs that allow us to hear the world around us. By understanding how they work, we can take better care of them and protect our hearing for years to come.

This slide provides a conclusion to the lesson and summarizes the main points.

Test

What can you hear?

Raise your hand when you do NOT hear the sound anymore.

Feedback

1. What did you like about todays class?

2. Do you still have a question/ what do you still find difficult?

3. What didn't you like about todays class?

4. Optional: any other message for me