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45 votes
45 votes
In 3 to 5 sentences, explain how ears detect sound and how eyes detect light

User LioRz
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2 Answers

20 votes
20 votes

Final answer:

Ears translate sound waves into vibrations that are converted to nerve signals and interpreted by the brain. Eyes detect light waves, which are focused on the retina and converted to neural impulses, then interpreted by the brain to form images.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the human body, ears detect sound through a process that translates air pressure waves into neural impulses. Sound waves enter the ear canal, causing the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are transmitted through three tiny bones in the middle ear to the cochlea in the inner ear. Within the cochlea, fluid movement stimulates hair cells, which in turn initiate nerve impulses that travel along the auditory nerve to the brain, which interprets the signals as sounds.

Similarly, the eyes detect light via a different but equally complex process. Light waves enter the eye through the cornea and pupil and are focused onto the retina by the lens. The retina, particularly at the fovea, contains specialized cells called rods and cones that convert light into neural impulses. These impulses are carried by the optic nerve to the brain, where they are processed to form the images we see.

User Siamak
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11 votes
11 votes
The eardrum vibrates from incoming sound waves
User David Kennell
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