Auditory Flashcards
Parts of outer ear
Ear pinna & external auditory meatus (canal)
Function of outer ear
To transmit sound to tympanic membrane
Parts of middle ear
Ossicles and Eustachian Tube
Name the ossicles
Malleus, incus, and stapes
Function of the ossicles
Transmit sound from tympanic membrane to oval window and amplify sound
Function of Eustachian tube
Equilibrate air pressure between inner and outer ear
Parts of inner ear
Cochlea, perilymph, and endolymph
Bone surrounding cochlea
Petrous part of temporal bone
Describe bone conduction
Vibration of the bones in the skull causes the air within the ear canal, and therefore fluid within the inner ear, to oscillate, transmitting sound
Desribe ossicular conduction
Vibrations pass from air into inner ear, tympanic membrane, ossicles, oval window, and cochlear fluid (in that order)
What is the most important type of conduction?
Ossicular conduction
What is the frequency of a sound wave related to?
Pitch
What is the amplitude of a sound wave related to?
Intensity (loudness)
Which muscle in the middle ear is innervated by a branch of the trigeminal nerve, originates at the malleus, and inserts near the Eustachian tube?
Tensor typmani muscle
Which muscle of the middle ear is innervated by a branch of the facial nerve, originates at the stapes, and attaches to the wall of the middle ear?
Stapedius muscle
Function of stapedius muscle
Attenuate how loud our voice seems when we speak
What is the name of the apex of the cochlea?
Helicotrema
Describe the bony labyrinth
- Made up of the scala vestibuli and scala tympani
- Contains perilymph
What is the course of scala vestibuli?
Oval window to helicotrema
What membrane separates the scala vestibuli from the cochlear duct?
Vestibular membrane (aka Reissner’s membrane)
What is the course of scala tympani?
Helicotrema to round window
What membrane separates the scala tympani from the cochlear duct?
Basilar membrane
What is another name for the cochlear duct?
Scala media
What sits on the basilar membrane?
Organ of Corti
Describe the membranous labyrinth
- Portion of inner ear containing the cochlear duct and Organ of Corti
- Filled with endolymph
- Important because this is where transduction of sound waves to nervous impulses occurs
What bone sits on the membrane of the oval window?
Stapes