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Hearing is a very important sensory function. It helps us to become aware of our environment and to communicate with others. Although it is possible to hear with only one ear, both ears are needed for optimal function.Sound waves travel through the air until it is captured and concentrated by the pinna (visible part of the outer ear). The pinna helps to funnel and modify the sound so that the brain can understand where the sound is coming from. Sound then travels through the outer ear canal until it reaches the tympanic membrane (ear drum). The sound waves are mechanical waves and causes vibration of the tympanic membrane. Due to the shape and properties of the tympanic membrane the sound waves are concentrated and transferred to the ossicles (small ear bones) of the middle ear. There are three ossicles namely the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil) and stapes (stirrup). The sound waves travels through the ossicles until it reaches the inner ear at the point where the stapes resides in the oval window.The pressure of the sound waves causes vibrations in the fluid of the cochlea of the inner ear. Inside the cochlea, special hair cells in the organ of Corti converts the mechanical sound waves into electrical nerve impulses. Nerve impulses reach the brainstem via the auditory nerve in the inner ear canal. From the brainstem it passes through several areas untill it reaches the cortex of the brain where the sound is interpreted and processed.