Auditory System Flashcards
What is hearing range and what is most sensitive
20 to 20,000Hz
1000-4000Hz
Function of Outer ear
collect sound
Function of Middle ear
transmission of sound
Function of inner ear
conversion of sound into neural impulses
1) where does sound enter
First enters the ear via the pinna (or auricle) which is the exterior part of the ear
2) what happens after sound enters the ear via the pinna (or auricle)
then enters the ear via the external auditory canal/meatus
3) what happens after the sound enters the ear via the external auditory canal/meatus
Makes its way through the canal to the TYMPANIC MEMBRANE (eardrum)
as the air molecules push against the membrane, it causes the tympanic membrane to vibrate at the same frequency as the sound wave
4) what happens to sound after the tympanic membrane vibrates
The vibrations are transmitted to the inner ear (for processing) through a moveable chain of three bones - the OSSICLES (smallest bones in the body )
Firstly through the MALLEUS
then the INCUS then STAPES
(MIS)
Tympanic membrane slow vibrations=
Tympanic membrane fast vibration =
low freq sounds
high frequency sound
Whys is the shape of both the pinna and external auditory canal/Meatus important
Help to amplify and direct the sound
What marks the end of external ear and beginning of middle
tympanic membrane
What cranial nerve provides sensation to middle ear
Glossopharyngeal CNIX
What is the middle ear
an air filled cavity in the temporal bone of the skull
What are the pressures in the external auditory canal/meatus and middle ear cavity
normally equal to atmospheric
How is middle ear exposed to atmospheric pressure
via Eustachian tube (or auditory tube) which connects middle ear to pharynx
How does the eustachian tube open into pharynx
through a slit-like opening which is normally closed, EXCept when muscle movements result in the opening of the tube e.g. during swallowing, yawing or sneezing
What can changes in altitude do to ear
Cause difference in pressure between middle ear and external ear
When the pressure outside the ear and in the external auditory meatus change what happens to the middle ear initially then what
middle ear initially remains constant due to the fact that the Eustachian tube is closed
This constant pressure can stretch the tympanic membrane = pain which can be relieved by yawning/swallowing with in turn results in the opening of the eustachian tube = allowing the pressure in the middle ear to equilibrate with the external atmospheric pressure
What joints do the ossicles have in-between them
synovial joints
5) what happens after the ossicles transmit the sound into the inner ear
They act as a piston and couple the vibrations of the tympanic membrane to the OVAL WINDOW
(a membrane covered opening between the middle and inner ear)
Whats the oval window
a membrane covered opening between the middle and inner ear
6) the total force of a sound wave applied to the tympanic membrane is completely transferred to the oval window
but the oval window is much smaller than the tympanic membrane. What does this mean?
due to the fact that the oval window is much smaller than the tympanic membrane,
the force per area is much greater which is required to adequately transmit the sound energy through the FLUID FILLED COCHLEA
How can the amount of energy transmitted into the inner ear be lessoned?
By the contraction of two small muscles in middle ear
TENSOR TYMPANI (V3 mandibular branch of trigeminal)
STAPEDIUS (CNVII facial)
What does the tensor tympani attach to and whats its function
Attaches to the MALLEUS and its contraction dampens the bones movement
what innervates the tensor tympani
MANDIBULAR DIVISION (V3) OF THE TRIGEMINAL (CNV)
What does the stapedius attach to and how does it control sound
Attaches to the stapes and also dampens the sound
What innervates the stapedius
FACIAL NERVE CN VII
what do the tensor tympani and the stapedius do
Act reflexively to CONTINUOUS loud noise to protect the delicate receptor apparatus in the inner ear
thes muscles cannot protect the ear from SUDDEN intermittent out sounds
What is the inner ear
called the COCHLEA (organ of hearing)
What is the cochlea
Spiral shaped (coiled around 2.5-2.75 times) fluid filled space in the temporal bone
How is the cochlea divided and what does this contain
almost divided completely lengthwise by a membranous tube called the cochlea duct - which contains the sensory receptors of the auditory system
What does the cochlea duct contain
filled with a fluid called ENDOLYMPH - a compartment if extracellular fluid containing a high conc of K+
and low conc of Na+
(this arrangement of concs is normally seen in intracellular fluid)
On the other side of the cochlear duct what is there
Compartments filled with PERILYMPH
similar composition to CSF
Where is the SCALA VESTIBULI
Above the cochlear duct and begin at the oval window
remember since vestibule is like an entrance so it from the entrance to the inner ear from the oval window
Where is the SCALA TYMPANI
Below the cochlear duct and connects to the middle ear via a second membrane covered opening - the ROUND WINDOW