Hot answers tagged human-ear
9
A quick diagram to point out to people who may not know what Eustachian tubes are (#2).
In order for the aromatic molecule to reach the olfactory bulb, it would first have to get through the Tympanic Membrane (#22) [a.k.a. - Eardrum]. The Tympanic Membrane is water/airtight unless pierced.
So, while it's plausible that an aromatic molecule could travel ...
8
The only sensible answer to these questions is "sometimes".
The reason: even a simple monotone must be described by both frequency and amplitude. Any frequency can cause harm with enough amplitude, and any frequency can be harmless when the amplitude is low enough. If you want to actually quantify the damage, you'll need something like an equal-loudness ...
5
As quoted from the wikipedia page on Earwax:
Cerumen [earwax] is produced in the outer third of the cartilaginous portion of
the human ear canal. It is a mixture of viscous secretions from
sebaceous glands and less-viscous ones from modified apocrine sweat
glands. The primary components of earwax are shed layers of skin,
with 60% of the earwax ...
4
@MCM gave a succinct and accurate description of how a healthy and "normal" person will not be able to smell via olfactory sensing trough the Eustachian tube.
Here is an interesting concept in which the brain is able to confuse senses, or alternatively, use sensory input as a metaphor for interpretation via another sensory output. This is a condition known ...
2
If you are talking about sound damaging the sound sensing organs in the ear, analogous to an ultrasonic heavy metal concert, I've found an interesting report just on this topic.
For ultrasonic components above 20 kHz, the limits were set to avoid hearing damage in the audible (lower) frequencies. One-third-octave band levels of 105-115 dB were observed ...
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