Description
Dwarfing ordinary ear models, this nonbreakable polymer reproduction depicts the human organ of hearing and balance scaled to 5× life size.
The surrounding temporal bone of the skull has been sagittally sectioned along the entire length of the auditory canal and Eustachian tube. This simplifies tracing the path of soundwaves entering the ear and makes it evident how pressure is equalized on both sides of the eardrum.
The overlying petrous portion of the temporal bone has also been cut away, exposing the entire middle ear chamber and the labyrinth.
Two of the middle ear ossicles, the malleus (hammer) and incus (anvil), and the attached see-through tympanic membrane lift out for hands-on study. Also detachable is the entire labyrinth unit consisting of the cochlea, vestibule, semicircular canals, auditory nerve, and the third ossicle, the stapes (stirrup).
Two of the 3 semicircular canals are made of transparent plastic tubing filled with colored fluid representing the endolymph. A visible air bubble in each will shift position when tilted, demonstrating the function of the canals in maintaining equilibrium.
A spiral cutaway of the cochlea shows its 3 canals in contrasting colors to enhance teaching the concept of pitch.
Thirty-six hand-numbered features are identified in the accompanying key. Size, 16 × 11 × 7″ (41 × 28 × 18 cm).