Introduction and overview

This article briefly outlines the structure and function of the auditory periphery. It intends to introduce the fundamental mechanisms that underlie the function of the auditory periphery. The more the inner workings of the ear are probed into, the more wondrous seem to be capacities, and the biological mechanisms underlying them. The article describes these mechanisms in detail. Two tasks that are central to peripheral auditory function are: conversion of the mechanical energy carried by airborne sounds into bioelectrical signals, and coding the information content of those sounds by frequency filtering. Multiple elements combine to meet these challenges, ranging from middle-ear mechanics. The article briefly overviews the structure and function of the external, middle, and inner ear, its development, repair, and genetics, aiming to provide a better understanding of the intricate machinery of the auditory periphery.