* Pinna: The visible part of the ear, also called the auricle, is made of cartilage covered by skin. It collects sound waves and directs them into the ear canal.
* Ear canal: A tube that leads from the pinna to the eardrum. It is lined with wax glands that produce earwax, which helps to protect the ear from infection.
* Eardrum: A thin membrane that vibrates when sound waves hit it. These vibrations are transmitted to the middle ear.
* Middle ear: A small, air-filled chamber that contains three small bones: the malleus, incus, and stapes. These bones amplify the vibrations from the eardrum and transmit them to the inner ear.
* Inner ear: A complex structure that contains the cochlea, a spiral-shaped organ that contains the auditory receptors. These receptors convert the vibrations from the middle ear into electrical signals that are sent to the brain.
Dog Ear
* Pinna: The pinna of a dog's ear is larger and more movable than that of a human. This allows dogs to better locate the source of sounds.
* Ear canal: The ear canal of a dog is longer and narrower than that of a human. This helps to protect the dog's ear from dirt and debris.
* Eardrum: The eardrum of a dog is thicker and more elastic than that of a human. This allows dogs to hear higher frequencies than humans can.
* Middle ear: The middle ear of a dog is similar to that of a human, but the bones are smaller and lighter.
* Inner ear: The inner ear of a dog is similar to that of a human, but the cochlea is longer and more complex. This allows dogs to hear a wider range of frequencies than humans can.
In addition to these structural differences, there are also some functional differences between human and dog ears. For example, dogs can hear sounds at a much higher frequency than humans can. Dogs can also hear sounds coming from behind them, while humans can only hear sounds coming from in front of them.