Ear Structure and Function in Modern Mammals

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Abstract
The acoustic portions of the mammalian ear display greater morphological diversity in peripheral than in central portions. In many mammals the pinna is of negligible auditory significance. The tympano-ossicular system of all mammals sensitive to air-borne sounds must transform air vibrations to fluid vibrations in the inner ear by matching the acoustical impedances. Within the cochlea the energy of the fluid vibrations is transduced into nerve impulses. In highly specialized mammals the morphology of these transformer and transducer mechanisms is adapted for the reception of extreme frequencies. Echolocating bats and whales possess different, but effective, specializations for the reception of ultrasonic frequencies. Moles and kangaroo rats, on the other hand, have specialized ear structures for the reception of low frequencies.

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