What does it mean when someone's ears move?

Each of us has two ears, and only when our ears are functioning properly can our hearing be guaranteed. The ears are not very big, but their structure is still very complex. It is introduced in biology that the ear is composed of three parts: the inner ear, the middle ear and the outer ear. Closely related to hearing is the inner ear. Generally, our ears do not move like our mouths. So what does it mean when someone’s ears move?

Auditory receptors and position receptors are located in the inner ear, so the ear is also called the hearing organ. Some people also list the external ear and middle ear as appendages of the auditory organ. The external ear consists of two parts: the auricle and the external auditory canal. In addition, there are ear hair and some glands on the skin of the external auditory canal. The secretions of the glands and the ear hair have a certain blocking effect on the entry of foreign matter such as dust from the outside.

Auricle: There is a large hole outside the auricle, called the external auditory meatus, which connects to the external auditory canal. The auricle is funnel-shaped and has the function of collecting external sound waves. Most of it is supported by elastic cartilage under the skin, and the small part below contains only connective tissue and fat under the skin. This part is called the earlobe. In clinical applications, the auricle is the site for auricular acupuncture treatment and auricular acupuncture anesthesia, while the earlobe is also often used as the site for clinical blood collection.

External ear: The external auditory canal is a curved tube from the external auditory meatus to the eardrum, about 2.5 to 3.5 cm long, and its skin is continued from the auricle. The outer third of the auditory canal wall is made of cartilage, and the inner two thirds of the auditory canal wall is made of bone. There are ear hair, sebaceous glands and cerumen glands on the skin of the cartilage part.

The so-called moving ears actually mainly refers to moving the auricle. This has to start with the structure of the ear. The main function of the auricle of the outer ear is to collect sound waves. The folds and bumps on the auricle are all for the purpose of effectively collecting sound waves. The reason why the ears of many animals can move is due to the existence of the ear muscles, which enable animals to flexibly rotate their ears when listening for movement. Wherever there is a sound, the ears can immediately turn there like a radar receiver. This is a very important ability for animals. However, with the evolution of human organs and tissues, including a flexible neck, it is no longer necessary to move the auricle to enhance hearing, so the auricular muscles have gradually degenerated. However, there are still a very small number of people whose auricular muscles have not completely degenerated and can allow the auricle to perform simple movements.

In order to survive in the wild, human ancestors needed to rely on the muscles at the base of the ears to move their ears so that they could always be aware of the surrounding sounds and identify danger.

After humans began to walk upright, their neck flexibility was greatly enhanced, allowing them to detect surrounding dangers more quickly. As a result, the muscles at the base of the ears of early humans gradually degenerated. Humans also evolved from animals and are higher animals.

Like humans and animals, there is an auriculo-motor muscle behind the ear that requires nerve control to move. However, as humans have evolved, the ear muscles of most people have degenerated, so their ears cannot move. The ears can move, which is related to certain genetic factors.

Biologists have confirmed that the ability of the ears to move is a sign of the development of the cerebral cortex. It represents that the brain nerves are stronger than those of ordinary people, and have better insight and willpower.