Auditory System Flashcards
What is the function of the outer ear
Collection of sound; protection, funneling of sound, and spectral filtering for sound localization
What is the function of the inner ear
Transduction of sound; functions as the sensory transducer of sound-driven vibrations, gravity, and acceleration into neuronal signals via inner hair cells
What is the function of the middle ear
Conduction/Amplification of sound; serves as an impedance matching device, allowing for adequate transfer of energy from air-borne sound to fluid-filled cochlea
What is the route of conduction of sound from the middle to the inner ear?
Tympanum –> malleus –> incus –> stapes –> oval window –> scala vestibuli –> helicotrema –> scala tympani –> round window
What is the stapedius reflex?
Contraction of the stapedius in response to high intensity sounds or just before speaking
What is the route of the stapedius reflex?
Loud sound travels to auditory nerve –> V. Cochlear nucleus –> S. Olivary nucleus –> facial motor nucleus, which release ACh to cause stapedius muscle contraction
How does sound transduction occur?
Pressure oscillations in the cochlea induce movement (vibration of the organ of corti); different parts of the basilar membrane move optimally at different frequencies of sound
What is endolymph
Contains high K+ and low Na+ and protein. +80mV, secreted from stria vascularis via Na/K
What is perilymph
Similar to interstitial fluid, with high Na+ and Cl-, low protein
What is the difference between perilymph and endolymph
Perilymph has high Na+, endolymph has low Na+; both have low protein; perilymph fills the vestibuli and tympani while endolymph fills the cochlear duct (media)
What is the result of the Rinne test if there is unilateral conduction hearing loss?
Bone louder than airborne
What is the result of the Weber test if there is unilateral conduction hearing loss?
Louder on affected side
Where does sound travel faster, water or air?
WATER, but most of it gets rejected
Which bone of the middle ear is referred to as the “anvil”
incus
Which bone of the middle ear is referred to as the “stirrup”
stapes
Which bone of the middle ear is referred to as the “hammer”
Malleus
What is the innervation of the middle ear?
A branch of the facial nerve and a branch of the trigeminal nerve
What is the musculature of the middle ear
Stapedius muscle and tensor tympani muscle
What do the facial nerve branch and stapedius muscle act on?
The stapes; nerve innervates the stapedius muscle
What do the trigeminal nerve branch and tensor tympani muscle act on?
tympanic membrane (muscle travels through the proximal portion of the eustachian tube); nerve innervates the tensor tympani
How does contraction of the middle ear muscles (stapedius and tensor tympani) affect amplification
Decreases amplification of the movements of the middle ear ossicles (increased impedance)
What is the purpose of contraction of the middle ear muscles
Protection against loud sounds, especially at lower frequencies to allow detection of higher frequencies
Where does the perilymph drain?
From the perilymph duct into the CSF of the subarachnoid space
What is the helicotrema
Apex of the cochlear labyrinth. The hair cells near this area best detect low frequency sounds.
What are the 3 fluid filled chambers of the cochlea?
Scala vestibuli, scala tympani, and scala media (cochlear duct)
What is the organ of corti
Site of mechano-electrical transduction
What is the frequency discrimination in humans?
0.2%
What three factors does frequency discrimination depend upon?
- tonotopic organization of hair cells
- membrane potential
- cilia length