The senses 1: hearing, balance and common pathologies of the ear

Abstract This series of articles will examine the anatomy and physiology associated with the five major human senses. In this first article, we examine the nature of hearing and balance (equilibrium). The ability to detect sound and balance the human body is reliant on highly specialised sensory organs located in the inner ear. The cochlea is where the organ of Corti is located, which is responsible for detecting sound waves; the vestibule and semicircular canals detect physical movement and are responsible for the sense of balance.

In this article…

• The anatomy and physiology of the ear

• The nature of hearing and balance

• Common pathophysiology related to the ear

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Key points

Hearing is one of five major senses, with the ear also being responsible for maintaining balance

The human ear has three major regions: outer, middle and inner

Specialised sensory organs in the ear enable sound to be detected, with sound waves transduced into nerve impulses relayed to the brain

Dynamic equilibrium is the ability to balance during movement, with information relayed from the inner ear to the cerebellum

Exposure to sounds of >89 decibels for more than five hours a week has been associated with permanent hearing loss