Evolution is a master recycler. It often uses old structures (or ancient genes) for new jobs. The mammalian ear is a perfect example. Over the eons, the jawbones of our fish ancestors became three ...

LOS ANGELES — Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery about the origins of the human outer ear, revealing that this distinctive mammalian feature evolved from an unexpected source: fish gills.

The outer ear is unique to mammals, but its evolutionary origin has remained a mystery. According to a new study published in Nature from the USC Stem Cell lab of Gage Crump, this intricate coil of ...

Medically reviewed by William Truswell, MD Key Takeaways The cochlear nerve is part of the eighth cranial nerve and is ...

The vagus nerve is called the "wandering nerve" because it's the longest nerve in the human body and travels from the base of the brain up into the ears and down into the lower intestines. In recent ...