Auditory System Flashcards
what is sound?
waves of compressed and expanded air, usually in the form of vibrations
loudness is determined by
magnitude of pressure differences (wave amplitude)
pitch is determined by
speed at which pressure changes (wave frequency)
air molecules get ___ at higher pressure areas of the ear
compressed
what is the approximate sound range for humans?
2-20000Hz
humans can detect sound of ___ frequency ranges
4
what is the function the outer and middle ear?
amplify sound
what is the external structure of the ear called? what is its function?
Pinna; funnelling sound onto tympanic membrane
what is the function of the external auditory canal?
funnel sound onto tympanic membrane
when sound reaches the tympanic membrane, what happens to it?
starts to vibrate
vibration of the tympanic membrane causes the movement of __
auditory ossicles
what are the middle ear bones (auditory ossicles? )
malleus, incus, stapes
what separates the outer from middle eat
the tympanic membrane
the movement of the ossicles causes amplification of sound so that when it reaches the oval window, it is __X louder than it was at the tympanic membrane
20
what causes the amplification of sound by the ossicles?
their leverage
tympanic vibrations are very dependent of __balance between middle and outer ear
pressure
how can pressure balance be restored when in a plane and the pressure in the middle ear is too high?
swallowing, because of the Eustachian tube that connects the throat to the middle ear will relive the pressure
vibrations of the oval window cause pressure waves of ___ in the ___ to the__ and onto the ___
perilymph in the scala vestibuli; scale tympani; round window
pressure waves deform the walls of the __ and cause pressure waves in the ___, which falls the ___ duct
scala vestibuli, endolymph, cochlear
pressure waves in the endolymph lead to vibrations of the ___ membrane, and different parts may move depending on __
basilar; sound pitch (frequency of waves)
what is the cochlea?
complex set of fluid-filled ducts
what are the 2 labyrinths of the cochlea?
bony and membranous
what fluid is contained in the bony labyrinth?
perilymph
what fluid is contained in the membranous labyrinth?
endolymph
the endolymph is rich in what ion?
K+
the two membranes that separate the 2 labyrinths are
vestibular and basilar membrane
what are the 2 ducts of the bony labyrinth?
- scala vestiboli
2. scala tympani