How does the inner ear work?
The inner ear is comprised of the cochlea and the vestibule, and the vestibule is this bony canal that’s filled with fluid, and this is where our balance comes from. The cochlea is the hearing organ. The sound comes down the ear canal, vibrates the eardrum, and is transmitted to the cochlea, which then sends the signal through this nerve to the brain. The vestibule, which is this labyrinth of bony rings, contains fluid that shifts when we move our head from side to side in all directions. It helps us to maintain our balance and know where we are in space. If there’s any trauma to the head, this system can be damaged and cause a vertigo or dizziness that the patient experiences. That’s pretty much the ear.
