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Flashcards in this deck (48)
  • What is the process that the ear uses to convert sound waves into electrical impulses?

    Auditory transduction

    biology hearing
  • What structure does sound waves first meet when entering the ear?

    Tympanic membrane

    biology anatomy
  • As sound enters the ear, it passes through the external auditory canal where it meets the tympanic membrane.

    biology anatomy
  • What is auditory transduction primarily responsible for?

    Amplifying sound

    Filtering background noise

    Converting sound waves to electrical impulses

    Producing sound waves

    biology hearing
  • What is the function of the tympanic membrane?

    It vibrates in response to sound, translating frequency and amplitude.

    biology hearing
  • What shape is the tympanic membrane?

    It is cone-shaped.

    anatomy hearing
  • What are the three auditory ossicles called?

    • Malleus
    • Incus
    • Stapes
    anatomy hearing
  • The tympanic membrane vibrates in response to sounds of lower pitch or frequency that produce a slower rate of vibration.

    biology hearing
  • Higher frequency sounds produce faster vibrations.

    biology hearing
  • The movements of the tympanic membrane vibrate the auditory ossicles passing on the information of frequency and amplitude.

    biology hearing
  • What effect does lower volume have on the tympanic membrane's vibration?

    Produces a less dramatic vibration

    Increases intensity

    No effect

    Produces a faster vibration

    biology hearing
  • What do the three auditory ossicles do?

    Change sound nature

    Amplify sound frequencies

    Increase sound volume

    Pivot together on an axis to transmit sound vibrations

    anatomy hearing
  • What are the ossicles in the middle ear responsible for?

    Transferring vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the footplate of the stapes.

    anatomy ear ossicles
  • What ligaments hold the ossicles in place within the middle ear?

    • Anterior malleal ligament
    • Posterior incudal ligament
    anatomy ear ligaments
  • What structure does the stapes move against?

    The oval window.

    anatomy ear stapes
  • What action does the stapes perform?

    Moves with a piston-like action.

    anatomy ear stapes
  • What does the movement of the stapes send vibrations into?

    The bony labyrinth.

    anatomy ear bony_labyrinth
  • The pivotal axis of the ossicles is due to ligaments like the anterior malleal ligament and posterior incudal ligament.

    anatomy ear ligaments
  • The chorda tympani nerve and the tendon of the tensor tympani muscle were removed to provide a clearer view of the middle ear.

    anatomy ear muscles
  • What is the fluid found in the labyrinth called?

    Perilymph

    anatomy ear
  • What structure helps displace the perilymph in the labyrinth?

    Round window

    anatomy ear
  • What does the stapes do in the auditory process?

    Pushes against the round window to allow vibrations.

    anatomy hearing
  • What are the two parts of the cochlea?

    • Scala vestibuli
    • Scala tympani
    anatomy cochlea
  • The bony labyrinth is a spiral-shaped structure resembling a snail shell.

    anatomy ear
  • The portion of the spiral passage that vibrations ascend to is called the scala vestibuli.

    anatomy cochlea
  • The descending portion of the passage in the cochlea is called the scala tympani.

    anatomy cochlea
  • What is the structure located between the scala vestibuli and scala tympani?

    The cochlear duct.

    anatomy ear
  • What fluid fills the cochlear duct?

    It is filled with endolymph.

    anatomy ear
  • What are the two membranes visible in the cross-section of the cochlear duct?

    • Reissner's membrane
    • Basilar membrane
    anatomy ear membranes
  • The membranes, Reissner's membrane and basilar membrane, are flexible and move in response to vibrations traveling up the scala vestibuli.

    anatomy ear
  • The organ of Corti is situated on the basilar membrane and it is stimulated by the vibrations of the membrane.

    anatomy ear
  • What does the organ of Corti send to the brain?

    Nerve impulses

    Signals

    Fluid

    Vibrations

    anatomy ear
  • The vibrations of the membranes send vibrations back down the scala tympani.

    anatomy ear
  • The cochlear duct is located between the scala vestibuli and scala tympani.

    anatomy ear
  • The organ of Corti contains specialized cells known as hair cells that generate actual nerve impulses.

    biology hearing
  • The hair cells in the organ of Corti are covered by a structure called the tectorial membrane.

    biology hearing
  • When the basilar membrane vibrates, the hair cells are bent against the tectorial membrane.

    biology hearing
  • The entire basilar membrane does not vibrate simultaneously; specific areas move variably in response to different frequencies of sound.

    biology hearing
  • Lower frequencies vibrate the basilar membrane closer to the apex of the cochlea, while higher frequencies vibrate closer to the base.

    biology hearing
  • This arrangement of vibration in the basilar membrane is known as tonotopic organization.

    biology hearing
  • What triggers the hair cells to fire in the organ of Corti?

    Sound waves alone

    Vibration of the entire basilar membrane

    Pressure from the inner ear

    Bending of the hair cells against the tectorial membrane

    biology hearing
  • Where are lower frequencies vibrationally detected in the cochlea?

    In the middle region

    Closer to the apex

    Equally throughout the cochlea

    Closer to the base

    biology hearing
  • What does the tectorial membrane cover?

    Hair cells

    Basilar membrane

    Cochlear nerve

    Ear canal

    biology hearing
  • What is the role of the eardrum in sound perception?

    The eardrum vibrates in response to sound waves, initiating the journey of sound through the ear.

    anatomy hearing
  • What structure do sound waves travel to after the eardrum?

    Cochlea

    anatomy hearing
  • What is the end result of the journey of sound through the ear?

    Acoustic perception of the world around us.

    perception sound
  • The eardrum vibrates when sound waves hit it, starting the journey of sound through the ear towards the cochlea.

    anatomy hearing
  • Together, this sequence of events enables our acoustic perception of the world.

    perception sound