Outer and middle ear structures provide frequency-specific amplification of incoming sound

Evidence

The outer ear primarily consists of the pinna and ear canal. The components of the pinna and ear canal, together, amplify incoming sound, predominantly for frequencies ranging between 2000 and 3500 Hz (Shaw, 1974). The tympanic membrane lies at the end of the ear canal and vibrates in response to the incoming (and now amplified) sound. The middle ear transmits the vibrations of the tympanic membrane to the cochlea, via the ossicular chain, which consists of the malleus, incus, and stapes and serves to provide an impedance match between the air-filled communication medium and the fluid-filled cochlea. The ossicular chain provides a second source of amplification, with an emphasis on frequencies between 600 and 1800 Hz (Kurokawa & Goode, 1995). — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 212

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to audiology basics on how conductive hearing loss arises from damage to these amplification stages. — connects to: Outer ear canal resonance explains peak sensitivity near 4 kHz — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 2005; Middle ear impedance match is optimal near 1 kHz; The pinna’s folded shape encodes sound direction as spectral echoes (+11 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 212

Broader Connections

• The middle ear amplifies sound pressure through three mechanical mechanisms #expands (1.00)
• The physical structure of the ear itself shapes and constructs perceived sound #expands (0.85) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 561
• The middle ear both transmits sound and protects against loud noise #expands (0.78) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 525