Hearing physiology
Hearing converts acoustic pressure waves to patterned electrical activity in cochlear hair cells and ascending auditory pathways.
Open interactive lesson & self-check ↗Hearing physiology — learning map
Original conceptual SVG · scalableOriginal schematic relationship map for this topic; relationships are organized for study, not intended as an anatomical depiction or a diagnostic algorithm.
Outer and middle ear
The pinna and external canal direct sound toward the tympanic membrane. Ossicles transfer motion toward the oval window.
Cochlear mechanics
Traveling waves along the basilar membrane peak at different locations according to sound frequency.
Hair-cell transduction
Stereociliary deflection changes ion conductance in sensory hair cells, altering neurotransmitter release onto auditory afferents.
Central pathway
Auditory nerve signals ascend through brainstem nuclei, thalamic relays and auditory cortex, supporting sound localization and perception.
Reference and next reading
Explore the original curriculum and publisher-hosted resources for full-depth reading; this note is an original schematic introduction, not an exhaustive chapter.