Auditory Perception

To be able to hear we need two things. 

1) A Pressurised sound wave
2) Hair Cell

This pressurised sound wave travel through the external ear and hits the Tympanic membrane (eardrum). This vibrates back and forth and causes 3 bones (Malleus, Incus & Stapes) to vibrate aswell. 

Cochlea

The Stapes is attached to the oval window which is a part of the cochlea. The Cochlea is like a coil that contains fluids. The vibration causes fluid to move towards the tip of the Cochlea.


When it get to the tip it goes back round and pushes out the round window. It then goes back and forth from the Round window to the Oval window. 

This movement causes hair cells in the Cochlea to move back and forth and that transmits a electric impulse to the brain via the auditory nerve. Hair cells closer to the tip of the cochlea respond to lower frequencies as do hair cells closer to the base respond to higher frequencies.