Abstract
The mammalian auditory periphery is a complex system, many components of which are biomechanical. This complexity increases sensitivity, dynamic range, frequency range, frequency resolution, and sound localization ability. These must be achieved within the constraints of available biomaterials, biophysics, and anatomical space in the organism. In this chapter, the focus is on the basic mechanical principles discovered for the various steps in the process of transforming the input acoustic sound pressure into the correct stimulation of mechanoreceptor cells. The interplay between theory and measurements is emphasized. In this chapter we examine the underlying biophysics of acoustical and mechanical transformations of sound by the subcomponents of the ear. The subcomponents include the pinna, ear canal, middle ear, cochlear fluid hydrodynamics, and organ of Corti. Physiological measurements and the deduced general biophysics that can be applied to the input and output transformations by the different subcomponents of the ear are presented.
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