The Ears – Part 1: Structure, Anatomy & Function

The Ears - Part of Wondrous Roots Five Senses Series!

In this first session of The Ears series, we take a ground-up look at the remarkable design of the human ear—how it is structured, how it functions, and how hearing and balance emerge through an intricate partnership between the ears and the brain.

We explore the three main regions of the ear (outer, middle, and inner), how sound travels from air into fluid, and how simple mechanical tools—the hammer, anvil, and stirrup—play a critical role in making hearing possible. From there, we follow sound beyond the ear itself, emphasizing that the ears do not “hear” on their own; the brain does the hearing, decoding, filtering, prioritizing, and interpreting the signals the ears deliver.

This session also highlights the ear’s rich and complex nervous system, including its shared nerve connections with the face, jaw, neck, and autonomic nervous system. These connections help explain why ear-related issues can influence balance, mood, orientation, and our fundamental sense of safety.

Together, the auditory and vestibular systems function as a powerful navigation system—telling us where we are in space and what is happening around us.

This foundational talk sets the stage for upcoming discussions on ear-related health concerns, including hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus, Ménière’s disease, and the fascinating relationship between the vestibular system and emotional regulation.

✨ Understanding how the system works is the key to understanding what happens when it doesn’t. Find the PDF of the presentation and the first section "THE EYES" on this Wondrous Page: https://www.wondrousroots.org/body-parts