Parts of the Ear

At a glance

Our ear and hearing is made up of many parts. Hearing loss can happen when any part of the ear or auditory (hearing) system is not working in the usual way.

Diagram of the outer, middle, and inner ear.

Outer ear

The outer ear is made up of three parts;

  • the part we see on the sides of our heads (pinna),
  • the ear canal, and
  • the eardrum (tympanic membrane).

Middle ear

The middle ear is made up of the eardrum and three small bones (ossicles) that send the movement of the eardrum to the inner ear.

Inner ear

The inner ear is made up of:

  • the snail shaped organ for hearing (cochlea),
  • the semicircular canals that help with balance, and
  • the nerves that go to the brain.

The ear (auditory) nerve

The hearing (auditory) system pathway in the brain

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Content Source:
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities