What is "ear"?

The ear is a sensory organ located on the sides of the head, responsible for both hearing and maintaining balance. It consists of three main parts: the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. The outer ear includes the visible part called the auricle or pinna and the ear canal, which leads to the eardrum. The middle ear contains the eardrum and three tiny bones called the ossicles, which transmit sound vibrations to the inner ear. The inner ear houses the cochlea, a spiral-shaped structure responsible for converting sound into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. In addition to hearing, the ear also plays a crucial role in our sense of balance and spatial orientation.