Q.While travelling at a higher altitude, a person complains of dizziness and vomiting sensation. Which part of the inner ear is disturbed during the journey?

The Ear: A Machine for Two Senses

Think of the ear not as a single organ, but as a three-stage machine. The first stage collects sound waves from the air. The second stage amplifies those waves and turns them into mechanical vibrations. The third stage converts those vibrations into electrical signals your brain can understand. That is the hearing pathway.

But the ear does something else entirely. Hidden inside the third stage is a separate sensor that detects rotation and gravity — your body's gyroscope. That is the balance system.

So the ear is really two machines sharing the same real estate. One for hearing, one for balance. The structure is divided into three anatomical regions: external ear, middle ear, and internal ear (also called the inner ear). Each region has a distinct job.

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The Three Regions

1. External Ear — The Collector

The external ear consists of the pinna (the visible flap of cartilage) and the ear canal (external auditory meatus). The pinna's folds act like a satellite dish, funnelling sound waves into the canal. The canal is about 2.5 cm long and lined with hairs and wax-producing glands — these trap dust and insects. At the far end of the canal is the tympanic membrane, or eardrum.

Sound waves travel down the canal and strike the eardrum, making it vibrate. That vibration is the first mechanical event in hearing.

2. Middle Ear — The Amplifier

The middle ear is an air-filled cavity behind the eardrum. It contains three tiny bones called ossicles — the smallest bones in the human body. Their names describe their shapes: