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How Much Do You Know About Ear Anatomy?

Take our quiz to test your knowledge of this incredible organ

Sarah Elizabeth Adler,

AARP

En español

Published October 15, 2021

9 Questions

c7ecff12-3c8a-4fd3-8342-35b58f60135f

How Much Do You Know About Ear Anatomy?

[ {
  "question" : "Which part of the ear plays a role in hearing?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Outer",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Middle",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Inner",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The outer, middle and inner ear all play a role in hearing. The outer ear channels sound into the ear canal, where it travels to the eardrum and bones of the middle ear, making them vibrate. These vibrations are converted to electrical signals in the inner ear, where they are sent to the brain.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "The ear canal is approximately _______ in length and made up of ________:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "One inch; bone and cartilage",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Two inches; bone",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "One centimeter; bone and cartilage",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Two centimeters; cartilage",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The ear canal is approximately one inch long and made up of cartilage (along the outer portion) and bone (along the inner portion). The ear canal is lubricated and protected by earwax, or cerumen. It may be tempting, but experts say to avoid inserting cotton swabs and other implements into the ear canal — you risk pushing wax deeper and damaging your eardrums.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "The tympanic membrane is more commonly known as the:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Inner ear",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Cochlea",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Eardrum",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Middle ear",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The dime-sized eardrum, or tympanic membrane, is the transparent, gray membrane found at the end of the ear canal. Sound entering the ear canal causes the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations set off three tiny bones in the middle ear, which further amplify sound before it travels to the inner ear.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "The bones that transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear are called:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Ossicles",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Malleus, incus, stapes",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Hammer, anvil, stirrup",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The tiny trio of bones found in the middle ear have a few names. Altogether, they are called the ossicles. Each bone also has a name based on its shape: There’s the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil) and stapes (stirrup). These bones are not only the smallest in the human body, but also the only ones that don’t grow after birth!",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "The eustachian tube connects the _____ with the ______:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Middle ear; back of the throat",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Ossicles; inner ear",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Eardrum; ossicles",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Cochlea; auditory nerve",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The eustachian tube, also called the auditory tube, runs from the middle ear to the upper part of the throat behind the nose. It serves three main functions: keeping air pressure equal on both sides of the eardrum, draining secretions, and protecting the middle ear from viruses and bacteria that might otherwise cause infections.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "All of the following are true of the cochlea except that:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "It is snail-shaped.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "It is responsible for our sense of balance.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "It is fluid-filled.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "It plays a key role in hearing.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The snail-shaped, fluid-filled cochlea is part of the inner ear. It contains specialized cells that convert sound vibrations into electrical signals that are sent from the auditory nerve to the brain, allowing us to perceive sound. Some types of hearing loss can be treated with cochlear implants, which bypass the cochlea to send sound directly to the auditory nerve and then the brain.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "The cells in the cochlea that convert sound into electrical signals are called:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Schwann cells",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Sensory cells",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Hair cells",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Lining cells",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Hair cells within the cochlea convert sound vibrations into electrical signals that are sent to the brain. We’re all born with about 16,000 hair cells within each ear, but repeated exposure to loud noise can damage or destroy them, leading to permanent hearing loss. To protect your hearing during activities like concerts and sporting events, consider using protection like earplugs and over-the-ear muffs.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "This part of the inner ear is responsible for balance:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Eustachian tube",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Semicircular canals",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Oval window",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "None of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Each ear contains three looped tubes called semicircular canals. Like the cochlea, these canals are filled with fluid and small hairs that work together to sense the body’s position and maintain balance. (Have you ever felt dizzy after getting off of a boat or amusement park ride? That’s because the fluid in the semicircular canals can continue to move even once you’re on solid footing.)",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "The auditory nerve transmits sound from the inner ear to the brain.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The auditory nerve, also called the acoustic or cochlear nerve, connects the inner ear to the brainstem, which sends the electrical signals produced by the cochlea to the auditory cortex for processing. Together with the vestibular nerve, which is responsible for balance, these nerves are known as the vestibulocochlear nerve. Damage to the auditory nerve can cause hearing loss, as well as conditions like vertigo and tinnitus. ",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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How Much Do You Know About Ear Anatomy?

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Sarah Elizabeth Adler is a writer based in Washington, D.C. She has written about science, art and culture for outlets including aarp.org, where she was previously a staff writer, The Atlantic and California magazine.