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Intro to Audiology > 1 - Anatomy & Physiology of Middle Ear > Flashcards

1 - Anatomy & Physiology of Middle Ear Flashcards

0
Q

The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear with the __________.

A

Nasopharynx

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1
Q

What is the middle ear filled with?

A

Air

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2
Q

What is the largest part of the tympanic membrane?

A

The pars tensa

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3
Q

How many parts does the pars tensa have?

A

3

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4
Q

Describe the pars tensa

4

A

Tense

Vibrates in response to sound

Has a blood supply

Is innervated

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5
Q

What is the densest part of the tympanic membrane?

A

Pars flaccida

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6
Q

Which is less tense: the pars tensa or the pars flaccida?

A

The pars flaccida

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7
Q

What is the function of the tympanic membrane?

A

To transduce sound pressure into mechanical vibrations

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8
Q

Name the three ossicles

A

Malleus

Incus

Stapes

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9
Q

What is the extension of the malleus that connects to the tympanic membrane?

A

Manubrium

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10
Q

What is the name of the center of the tympanic membrane where the Manubrium attaches?

A

Umbo

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11
Q

What does the head of the malleus connect to?

A

The head of the incus

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12
Q

What are the two middle ear muscles?

A

Stapedius muscle

Tensor Tympani

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13
Q

What is the smallest human muscle?

A

Stapedius muscle

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14
Q

Where does the stapedius muscle attach?

A

Attaches to the head of the stapes

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15
Q

Where does the tensor tympani muscle attach?

A

To the upper part of the manubrium

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16
Q

To what does the tensor tympani muscle run parallel to?

A

The Eustachian Tube

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17
Q

What is unique about the middle ear muscles?

A

The are totally encased in bone.

Only their tendons are exposed to attach to the ossicles

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18
Q

What is the function of the middle ear muscles?

A

Act in concert to modify the ossicles’ alignment

Provide protection from loud sounds

Provide amplification for soft sounds

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19
Q

What happens to the middle ear muscles during sustained long sounds?

A

They tense up so that less pressure is being applied to the oval window

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20
Q

What is the dynamic range of hearing?

A

From the threshold of hearing (softest sound you can detect) to the threshold of pain (loudest sound you can comfortably tolerate)

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21
Q

How is the impedance imbalance of the inner ear compensated for?

A

The size of the tympanic membrane vs. the size of the stapedial footplate

The leverage created by the geographic configuration of the ossicles

22
Q

The area of the tympanic membrane vs. the area of the stapedial footplate improves sound transmission by ___________.

23
Q

The leverage provided by the ossicles improves sound transmission by __________.

24
Q

What are the four quadrants of the tympanic membrane?

A

Posterior Superior

Posterior Inferior

Anterior Superior

Anterior Inferior

25
Q

What are the parts of the middle ear?

5

A

Tympanic Membrane

Ossicular Chain

Tendons

Muscles

Eustachian Tube

26
Q

What is the name of the groove where the TM is located?

A

Tympanic Sulcus

27
Q

What are the parts of the tympanic membrane?

7

A

Pars Flaccida

Pars Tensa

Umbo

Cone of Light

Tympanic Ring

Manubrium

Notch of Rivinus

28
Q

The ear drums slant towards _________.

29
Q

What are the three layers of the tympanic membrane?

A

Cutaneous

Fibrous

Internal

30
Q

What is the Cutaneous Layer of the TM like?

A

Outer Layer

Composed of same skin that covers last portion of the external ear canal

31
Q

What is the Fibrous Layer of the TM like?

A

It provides most of the structure, integrity, and compliance

Its density is greatest at the center

32
Q

What are the two layers of the TM’s Fibrous Layer

A

Radial Fibers

Spiral (Circular) Fibers

33
Q

What is the Internal Layer of the TM like?

A

A mucous membrane

34
Q

What is the Promontory?

A

A bony area that is the entrance to the cochlea

35
Q

What holds the ossicular chain in place?

3

A

Tympanic Membrane

6 Ligaments

Tendons of Tensor Tympani & Stapedius Muscles

36
Q

What’s different about the middle ear tendons?

A

They are more elastic than other tendons in body

They produce slower muscle contractions - no sudden contractions

37
Q

When does the Tensor Tympani muscle move?

A

During swallowing, chewing, and other facial movements

38
Q

When does the Stapedius muscle move?

A

During loud sounds or right before speaking

Its movement is involuntary

39
Q

What is the difference between the tensor tympani muscle and the stapedius muscle?

A

Tensor Tympani = Bigger muscle, smaller effect

Stapedius = Smaller muscle, bigger effect

40
Q

How do the tensor tympani muscle and the stapedius muscle interact together?

A

The contract in opposite directions to prevent rotation of the ossicular chain

41
Q

What is the function of the tensor tympani muscle and the stapedius muscle?

A

To modify the vibration of the ossicular chain

42
Q

What are the six ligaments of the middle ear?

A

Superior malleal ligament

Lateral malleal ligament

Anterior malleal ligament

Superior Incudal Ligament

Posterior incudal ligament

Annular Ligament

43
Q

What are the two muscles of the Eustachian Tube?

A

Tensor Veli Palatini (TVP)

Levator Veli Palatini (LVP)

44
Q

What is the function of the Eustachian Tube?

A

To equalize the air pressure in the middle ear with the air pressure of the environment

To allow fluids in the middle ear to be drained

45
Q

What is the function of the middle ear?

A

To compensate for the impedance mismatch between the outer and inner ears

It takes more energy to produce a sound wave in the inner ear fluids than the atmosphere where the sound was generated

46
Q

What is impedance?

A

The sum of all the energy that opposes the transmission of sound

47
Q

How much larger is the TM than the Oval Window?

A

15x larger

48
Q

What is a conductive loss of hearing?

A

When a patient is missing or has malfunctioning TM and/or ossicles

49
Q

When the Eustachian Tube’s muscles are relaxed, the lumen is?

50
Q

When the Eustachian Tube’s muscles are contracted, the lumen is?

51
Q

What is the Lumen?

A

The tube part of the Eustachian Tube

52
Q

What hair cells are usually damaged in noise-induced hearing loss?

A

The outer hair cells

Intro to Audiology (11 decks)

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