When wanting to learn about the function of the human ear, a human ear diagram can help by showing the parts of the ear that are not externally visible. Learning the anatomy of the ear is often the first step in understanding how hearing works. The human ear is commonly divided into the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. A human ear diagram typically shows the outer ear on the left side of the diagram.

The outer ear is what can be seen externally, the outer auditory canal, and the eardrum. The purpose of the outer ear is to funnel sound to the middle and inner ear portion where the sound can be perceived. The middle ear shows on a human ear diagram as a space located above the eardrum and the inner ear. This space is also called the tympanic cavity. The tympanic cavity is connected to the Eustachian tube which leads to the upper throat. The Eustachian tube is typically only shown in more detailed human ear diagrams.

The inner ear is also referred to as a bony labyrinth. The simple human ear diagrams show the basic bony structures of the inner ear including the hammer, anvil, and stirrup collectively referred to as the auditory ossicles. What is not usually shown is that the inner ear contains a fluid called endolymph fluid. Not only is the inner ear crucial for hearing, but also for maintaining balance and posture. Some human ear diagrams also show the semicircular canals that are behind the anvil of the inner ear. The balance nerve connects to the semicircular canals.

The sound waves that pass through the ear drum are converted to vibrations. Detailed human ear diagrams show the auditory nerve, also called the eighth nerve, that carries the molecular messages caused by the vibrations to the brain where the comprehension of the sounds occurs. The auditory nerve that carries the messages necessary for hearing are connected to the cochlea. The cochlea is considered the hearing organ, but as a diagram shows, there are many parts of the ear involved in the sense of hearing.