Anatomy of the Cochlea Background Both music and the structure
of the inner ear are integrated in this fascinating illustration
of how we hear sound. Sounds from the outside world pass as
vibrations through tiny bones in our ear to the cochlea. Within
the coiled tube of the cochlea, different regions of the basilar
membrane sense different sound frequencies at specific. This
animation demonstrates how high-frequency sounds penetrate only
a short distance along the basilar membrane. Vibrations from low
tones are sensed at the farthest end of the basilar membrane.
This animation was designed in conjunction with HHMI's 1997
Holiday Lectures on Science, Senses and Sensitivity: Neuronal
Alliances for Sight and Sound. It is narrated by HHMI
investigator A. James Hudspeth, Ph.D., M.D., who was one of the
lecturers. Anatomy of the Cochlea Tips The animations in this
section have a wide variety of classroom applications. Use the
tips below to get started but look for more specific teaching
tips in the near future. Ple