Why is the external part of the human ear shaped the way it is and not just simply two holes or slits for hearing?
In: Biology
Two main factors have shaped our external ear anatomy:
– directional sound filters. The shape of our ears causes certain frequencies of sound to be emphasized relative to others, and this happens directionally – so sound coming from behind us is recognizably different from sound coming from ahead of us.
– storm gutters. Our ears work best when dry, so the external shape tries to keep rain from getting in, and provide an easy path to drain out.
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