How are sound pressure waves collected in the ear?

Sound pressure waves are collected in the ear starting with the outer ear, which consists of the pinna and the ear canal. The role of the outer ear is to gather sound waves from the environment and channel them towards the eardrum (tympanic membrane). As sound waves enter the ear canal, the shape and structure of the outer ear help to amplify certain frequencies and direct the sound waves effectively to the eardrum.

When these pressure waves reach the eardrum, they cause it to vibrate, and these vibrations are then transferred to the middle ear bones (ossicles), further transmitting the sound to the inner ear, where the cochlea converts these mechanical vibrations into electrical signals for the brain to interpret. Thus, the function of the outer ear in collecting and directing sound waves is a critical first step in the auditory system's processing of sound.