Anatomy of the Ear

Question 1

How many sections of the ear are there?

Answer 1

Three

Question 2

What are the three regions of the ear called?

Answer 2

Outer(Externa)
Middle
Inner

Question 3

What part of the ear is involved wth balance?

Answer 3

The inner ear including the vestibular tubes

Question 4

What components are found in the outer ear?

Answer 4

Auricle(Pinna)
Ear canal

Question 5

What is the function of the auricle(pinna)?

Answer 5

It captures and directs sound waves towards the ear canal

Question 6

What is another name for the ear canal?

Answer 6

External Acoustic Meatus

Question 7

Where is the tympanic membrane found?

Answer 7

It lies at the end of the ear canal and separates the outer and middle ear

Question 8

What is the tympanic membrane made of?

Answer 8

Mucous membrane and skin

Question 9

What happens to the tympanic membrane when sound waves enter?

Answer 9

Vibrates to the changes in air pressure.
The sound energy is transmitted to the malleus and subsequently to the other bones within the middle ear

Question 10

What are the features of a healthy tympanic membrane?

Answer 10

Pearly grey/pink
Slightly translucent

Question 11

Which of the ossicles does the tympanic membrane attatch to?

Answer 11

Malleus

Question 12

What is another name for the tympanic membrane?

Answer 12

Ear drum

Question 13

What does the middle ear consist of?

Answer 13

It is an air-filled section containing auditory ossicles
Eustachian tube
Oval window

Question 14

What are ossicles?

Answer 14

Tiny bones in the ear

Question 15

What are the three ossicles called?

Answer 15

Malleus, Incus, Stapes

Question 16

Where is the middle ear?

Answer 16

Between the tympanic membrane and the wall of the inner ear

Question 17

Are the three ossicles connected to each other?

Answer 17

Yes

Question 18

Which order are the three ossicles in?

Answer 18

Malleus
Incus
Stapes

Question 19

What happens once the vibrations from the tympanic membrane reach the first ossicle?

Answer 19

The vibrations are transmitted accross the ossicles which then transmit the vibrations to the oval window

Question 20

What is the oval window?

Answer 20

Membrane covering the entrance to the inner ear

Question 21

How long is the eustachian tube in adults?

Answer 21

~18mm long

Question 22

Where does the eustachian tube connect to?

Answer 22

The back of the throat

Question 23

What is the function of the Eustachian tube?

Answer 23

Balances the air pressure on either side of the tympanic membrane
Drains fluid from the middle ear

Question 24

What is the difference between an adult eustachian tube and a child eustachian tube?

Answer 24

The eustachian tube in a child is shorter, narrower and more horizontal than an adult

Question 25

What two things does the inner ear control?

Answer 25

Hearing and Balance

Question 26

What happens to the vibrations after they are transmitted to the oval window?

Answer 26

The vibrations are converted into electrical signals which are sent to the brain via the auditory nerve (choclear) It is interpreted by the brain as sound

Question 27

Describe the path that sound waves take from the pinna to the brain

Answer 27

The sound waves are captured by the auricle(pinna) They are channeled to the external acoustic meatus(ear canal) The sound waves cause the tympanic membrane(ear drum) to vibrate These vibrations transfer through to the ossicles: malleus => incus => stapes The stapes is connected to the choclea which converts the vibrations into electrical signals These are transferred to the brain via the auditory nerve(choclear)

Question 28

What part of the inner ear is most important for balance?

Answer 28

Vestibular apparatus

Question 29

What are the vestibular apparatus?

Answer 29

A network of cooped tubes called semi-circular canals, the utricle and the saccule

Question 30

What do the semi circular canals do?

Answer 30

Detect rotational movement through cells which activate as you tilt or move your head

Question 31

What is the function of the utricle and saccule?

Answer 31

Detect linear movement and send signals to the vestibular nerve which joins the auditory nerve carrying signals to the brain The brain interprets the signals and adjusts eyes and signals muscles to maintain balance

Question 32

What is found in ear wax?

Answer 32

Cerumen Dead skin cells

Question 33

What does ear wax do?

Answer 33

Provides a protective film on the lining of the ear canal Keeps ear canal clean Lubricates and protects ear canal from infection Traps dirt and repels water

Question 34

Is ear wax slightly acidic or alkaline?

Answer 34

Acidic

Question 35

What property does ear wax being slightly acidic provide?

Answer 35

Asceptic

Question 36

How does the ear canal get rid of wax?

Answer 36

Epithelial migration, helped by jaw movement

Question 37

Where is ear wax made?

Answer 37

Outer thirds of the ear canal

Question 38

How many different types of secretory glands are there?

Answer 38

Two

Question 39

What are the two types of secretary glands?

Answer 39

Sebaceous glands Ceruminous glands

Question 40

What do sebaceous glands produce?

Answer 40

Sebum

Question 41

What do ceruminous glands produce?

Answer 41

Sweat

Question 42

What are some symptoms of excessive ear wax?

Answer 42

Decrease in hearing Feeling of fullness in canal Pain Ringing in ears Odour Dizziness Cough Itchiness

Question 43

Procucts available to treat ear wax?

Answer 43

Sodium Bicarbonate Olive oil