http://www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Human Biology
FIGURE 1.94
This bottle of water models the semicir-
cular canals in your ears. When you tip
the bottle, the water moves up or down
the sides of the bottle; when you tip your
head, the liquid inside the semicircular
canals moves up and down the sides of
the canals. Tiny hair cells lining the canals
sense the movement of liquid and send
messages to the brain.Summary
- At the end of the ear canal, sound waves hit the eardrum, which passes vibrations through a series of bones to
the cochlea. - The parts of the ears involved in balance are the semicircular canals.
Practice
Use the resources below to answer the questions that follow.
- Hearing and Balanceat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTiGskc1o48 (1:02)
MEDIA
Click image to the left for more content.- When sound enters your ear, it starts your eardrum vibrating. Where do the vibrations go next?
- What part of your ear contains fluid?
- Where are the nerve sensors that communicate with the brain located in your ear?
- The Sense of Balanceat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmBB2bu1gEQ (0:41)