📚 Human Speech and Hearing: KS3 Edexcel Biology Revision | 人类的口语与听力：KS3 Edexcel 生物备考专项
Speech and hearing are two of the most remarkable biological abilities we possess. They allow us to share ideas, express emotions, and connect with others. This revision guide breaks down the key KS3 Edexcel biology topics behind how we hear sounds and how we produce speech. You will learn about the structure of the ear, the journey of sound waves, the role of the vocal cords, and how the brain processes language.
口语和听力是我们拥有的两种最了不起的生物学能力。它们让我们能够交流想法、表达情感并与他人联系。这份备考指南将拆解 KS3 Edexcel 生物学中关于我们如何听到声音以及如何产生言语背后的关键主题。你将学习耳朵的结构、声波的传播路径、声带的作用以及大脑如何处理语言。
1. The Ear: Our Sound Detector | 耳朵：我们的声音探测器
The human ear is a complex organ divided into three main parts: the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. Each section has a specific job in capturing sound waves and turning them into signals the brain can interpret.
人类耳朵是一个复杂的器官，分为三个主要部分：外耳、中耳和内耳。每个部分在捕捉声波并将其转化为大脑可以解读的信号方面都有特定的作用。
| Part (Section) | Function | 中文说明 |
|---|---|---|
| Pinna (auricle) – Outer ear | Collects sound waves and funnels them into the ear canal. | 收集声波并将其导入耳道。 |
| Ear canal – Outer ear | Directs sound waves towards the eardrum; produces earwax for protection. | 将声波导向鼓膜；分泌耳垢起到保护作用。 |
| Eardrum (tympanic membrane) – Middle ear | A thin membrane that vibrates when sound waves hit it. | 一层薄膜，当声波撞击时会产生振动。 |
| Ossicles (hammer, anvil, stirrup) – Middle ear | Three tiny bones that amplify vibrations and pass them to the inner ear. | 三块小骨放大振动并将其传递到内耳。 |
| Oval window – Middle ear | Membrane that transmits vibrations from the stirrup into the cochlea. | 将镫骨的振动传入耳蜗的薄膜。 |
| Cochlea – Inner ear | A fluid-filled spiral tube that converts vibrations into nerve impulses using hair cells. | 充满液体的螺旋管，利用毛细胞将振动转化为神经冲动。 |
| Auditory nerve – Inner ear | Carries electrical signals from the cochlea to the brain. | 将电信号从耳蜗传送到大脑。 |
the path: pinna → ear canal → eardrum → ossicles → oval window → cochlea → auditory nerve.
考试题目经常要求你给耳朵图标注或描述每个部分的作用。记住路径：耳廓 → 耳道 → 鼓膜 → 听小骨 → 卵圆窗 → 耳蜗 → 听神经。
2. From Sound Waves to Nerve Signals | 从声波到神经信号
When a sound is made, it creates vibrations that travel through the air as waves. The pinna captures these waves and guides them through the ear canal to the eardrum.
当发出声音时，它会产生振动，这些振动以波的形式在空气中传播。耳廓捕捉这些波并将其通过耳道引导至鼓膜。
The eardrum vibrates at the same frequency as the sound wave. These tiny vibrations are then passed to the hammer, which pushes the anvil, which in turn moves the stirrup. The three ossicles work like a lever system to amplify the vibrations by about 22 times.
鼓膜以与声波相同的频率振动。这些微小的振动随后传递到锤骨，锤骨推动砧骨，砧骨再移动镫骨。这三块听小骨像杠杆系统一样工作，将振动放大约 22 倍。
The stirrup presses against the oval window, sending pressure waves into the fluid inside the cochlea. Inside the cochlea, thousands of microscopic hair cells bend because of the fluid movement. This bending causes the hair cells to generate electrical nerve impulses.
镫骨压迫卵圆窗，将压力波传入耳蜗内的液体中。在耳蜗内部，成千上万个微小的毛细胞因液体流动而弯曲。这种弯曲使毛细胞产生电神经冲动。
The impulses travel along the auditory nerve to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound. Damage to hair cells is permanent and leads to hearing loss, so protecting your ears is vital.
这些冲动沿着听神经传到大脑，在那里被解读为声音。毛细胞的损伤是永久性的，会导致听力损失，因此保护耳朵至关重要。
3. How We Perceive Pitch and Loudness | 我们如何感知音调与响度
The loudness of a sound is determined by the amplitude (height) of the sound wave. Larger amplitude causes the eardrum to vibrate more vigorously, and the ossicles transfer stronger vibrations to the cochlea. The brain interprets this as a louder sound.
声音的响度由声波的振幅（高度）决定。振幅越大，鼓膜振动越剧烈，听小骨将更强的振动传递给耳蜗。大脑将此解读为更响的声音。
Pitch (how high or low a sound is) depends on the frequency of the wave. High-frequency waves make the eardrum vibrate quickly, resulting in a high-pitched sound like a whistle. Low-frequency waves cause slower vibrations and produce low-pitched sounds like a drum beat.
音调（声音的高低）取决于波的频率。高频波使鼓膜快速振动，产生像口哨一样的高音。低频波引起较慢的振动，产生像鼓声一样的低音。
Different parts of the cochlea respond to different frequencies. Hair cells near the start of the cochlea detect high pitches, while those near the end detect low pitches. This arrangement is called tonotopic organisation and helps the brain distinguish complex sounds, including speech.
耳蜗的不同部位对不同频率做出反应。靠近耳蜗起点的毛细胞检测高音，而靠近末端的毛细胞检测低音。这种排列称为音调组织，帮助大脑区分复杂的声音，包括言语。
4. The Voice Box: Larynx and Vocal Cords | 喉和声带：声音的源头
Speech begins in the voice box, or larynx, located at the top of the trachea (windpipe). Inside the larynx are two folds of tissue called vocal cords. When we are not speaking, the vocal cords are relaxed and apart, allowing air to pass freely.
言语始于喉部，即位于气管顶部的发声器官。喉头内部有两片叫做声带的组织褶皱。当我们不说话时，声带放松且分开，让空气自由通过。
To produce sound, muscles in the larynx bring the vocal cords close together. Air from the lungs is forced through the narrow gap, causing the cords to vibrate. The faster the vibration, the higher the pitch. Men typically have longer and thicker vocal cords, which vibrate more slowly, giving them deeper voices on average.
为了发出声音，喉部肌肉将声带拉近。来自肺部的空气被迫通过狭窄的缝隙，使声带振动。振动越快，音调越高。男性通常拥有更长更厚的声带，振动较慢，因此平均而言嗓音较深沉。
The basic sound produced by the larynx is a buzzing tone. It is not yet speech. The sound is then shaped by the pharynx, mouth, and nasal cavity into the vowels and consonants we recognise.
喉头产生的基本声音是一种嗡嗡的声调。这还不是言语。随后，这种声音被咽腔、口腔和鼻腔塑造成我们能识别的元音和辅音。
5. Shaping Speech: Mouth, Tongue, and Lips | 塑造语音：口腔、舌头和嘴唇
Once the raw sound leaves the larynx, it enters the vocal tract, which consists of the throat (pharynx), mouth, and nasal passages. These spaces act as resonators, amplifying certain frequencies and giving your voice its unique quality, or timbre.
当原始声音离开喉部后，它进入声带通道，这包括喉咙（咽腔）、口腔和鼻腔通道。这些空间充当共鸣器，放大某些频率，赋予你的声音独特的品质或音色。
The tongue is arguably the most important articulator. By changing its position – high, low, forward, back – we produce different vowel sounds. For example, the 'ee' in 'see' requires the tongue to be high and front, while the 'ah' in 'father' requires a low, back position.
舌头可以说是最重要的调音器官。通过改变位置——高、低、前、后——我们发出不同的元音。例如，'see' 中的 'ee' 需要舌位高且靠前，而 'father' 中的 'ah' 则需要低且靠后的位置。
Consonants are formed by obstructing the airflow. The lips come together to make sounds like 'p', 'b', and 'm'. The tongue touches the roof of the mouth for 't' and 'd', or approaches the teeth for 'th'. The soft palate can be raised to block the nose, making oral sounds, or lowered for nasal sounds like 'n' and 'ng'.
辅音是通过阻碍气流而形成的。双唇闭合发出 'p'、'b' 和 'm' 等音。舌头接触上颚发出 't' 和 'd'，或接近牙齿发出 'th'。软腭可以抬高以阻断鼻腔，发出口腔音，或下降以发出鼻音，如 'n' 和 'ng'。
6. The Brain's Role in Speech and Hearing | 大脑在口语与听力中的作用
Once the auditory nerve sends signals to the brain, the primary auditory cortex in the temporal lobe processes the basic features of the sound, such as pitch, loudness, and location. The brain then interprets these patterns as meaningful words or as music or noise.
一旦听神经将信号发送至大脑，颞叶的初级听觉皮层就会处理声音的基本特征，如音调、响度和位置。然后大脑将这些模式解读为有意义的单词、音乐或噪音。
For speech production, two key areas in the left hemisphere are vital for most people. Broca's area, located in the frontal lobe, is responsible for planning the muscle movements needed to speak. Wernicke's area, in the temporal lobe, helps you understand spoken and written language.
对于言语产生，大多数人的左脑有两个关键区域。布罗卡区位于额叶，负责规划说话所需的肌肉运动。韦尼克区位于颞叶，帮助你理解口语和书面语言。
When you name an object aloud, Wernicke's area retrieves the word, and Broca's area prepares the sequence of tongue, lip, and larynx movements to say it. Damage to these areas can cause aphasia, difficulties in speaking or understanding speech.
当你大声说出一个物体的名字时，韦尼克区提取单词，布罗卡区准备舌头、嘴唇和喉部的动作顺序来说出它。这些区域受损可能导致失语症，即说话或理解言语的困难。
7. Protecting Your Hearing and Voice | 保护你的听力与嗓音
Loud noises, especially those above 85 decibels, can damage the delicate hair cells in the cochlea. Once destroyed, hair cells do not regenerate, leading to permanent noise-induced hearing loss. Listening to music at high volumes through earphones is a common risk.
响亮的噪音，特别是超过 85 分贝的，会损伤耳蜗内脆弱的毛细胞。毛细胞一旦被破坏就无法再生，导致永久性噪声性听力损失。通过耳机高音量听音乐是一个常见的风险。
To protect your ears, wear earplugs at concerts or when using loud machinery. Give your ears regular breaks from earphones, and follow the 60/60 rule: listen at no more than 60% of maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time.
为了保护耳朵，在音乐会或使用嘈杂机器时佩戴耳塞。让耳朵定期从耳机得到休息，并遵循 60/60 规则：每次听音不超过最大音量的 60%，时间不超过 60 分钟。
Your voice also needs care. Shouting or talking loudly for long periods can strain the vocal cords, causing hoarseness or nodules. Stay hydrated, avoid excessive throat clearing, and warm up your voice before extended use. Cigarette smoke irritates the larynx and should be avoided.
你的嗓音也需要呵护。长时间喊叫或大声说话会拉伤声带，导致嘶哑或结节。保持水分，避免过度清嗓子，长时间使用嗓音前先热身。香烟烟雾会刺激喉部，应当避免。
8. Exam Tips and Key Terms | 考试技巧与关键术语
pinna → ear canal → eardrum → ossicles → oval window → cochlea → auditory nerve → brain. Use the terms 'amplify' and 'convert' correctly.
在 KS3 Edexcel 生物考试中，你可能会被要求标注人耳结构图或排列听力过程的步骤。练习追踪这条路径：声波 → 耳廓 → 耳道 → 鼓膜 → 听小骨 → 卵圆窗 → 耳蜗 → 听神经 → 大脑。要正确使用 'amplify' 和 'convert' 这两个术语。
You could also be asked to explain why two people have different voice pitches. Link the answer to the length and thickness of the vocal cords: shorter, thinner cords vibrate faster and create a higher pitch. Remember that the larynx grows during puberty, especially in males, deepening the voice.
你也可能被要求解释为什么两个人的声调不同。答案要联系声带的长度和厚度：较短、较薄的声带振动更快，产生更高的音调。记住，喉部在青春期生长，尤其是男性，这会让声音变低沉。
The table below summarises key vocabulary you should know. Test yourself by covering the English or Chinese column and recalling the term.
下面的表格总结了你应该掌握的关键词汇。遮盖英文或中文栏，回忆对应术语，来进行自测。
| English Term | 中文术语 | Quick Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Pinna | 耳廓 | Outer part of the ear that collects sound |
| Eardrum | 鼓膜 | Membrane that vibrates with sound |
| Ossicles | 听小骨 | Hammer, anvil, stirrup – amplify vibrations |
| Cochlea | 耳蜗 | Fluid-filled coil with hair cells for hearing |
| Auditory nerve | 听神经 | Sends impulses to the brain |
| Larynx | 喉 | Voice box containing vocal cordsPublished by TutorHao | KS3 Biology Revision Series | aleveler.com
广告 / Sponsored Pearson Edexcel International A Level 培生爱德思 Alevel 考试 Biolo… 生物 备考教辅 · 正版现货 · 与本文内容相关 查看详情 / View on Taobao参考价 ¥59.2更多咨询请联系16621398022（同微信） 备考资讯每日更新，关注不错过 考纲变化 · 科目分析 · 学习方法  在微信里长按二维码识别关注 或截图后用「扫一扫 → 相册」选择本图 公众号：tutorhao |