THE outer part of the ear (pinna), serves to “catch” sound waves. Sounds from different directions will bounce off the pinna in different ways, and this is recognised by the brain – that is, whether the sound is in front, behind, above or below you.
The sound waves travel into the ear canal and subsequently vibrate the eardrum (tympanic membrane). The eardrum is positioned between the ear canal and the middle ear, and the middle ear is connected to the throat via the Eustachian tube.
