Auditory & Vestibular system Flashcards
where is the ear in relation to the skull?
embedded in petrous portion of temporal bone
What frequency of motion do the vestibular and hearing organs capture respectively?
Vestibular organ: capture low frequency motion (movements)
Hearing organ: capture high frequency motion (sound)
What is frequency? What does it measure?
Cycles per second, measures pitch (perceived tone) in Hz
What is amplitude/ loudness?
Sound pressure (dB), subjective attribute correlated with physical strength.
Human range of hearing (frequency and amplitude)
Frequency: 20–20,000Hz
Loudness: 0 dB to 120 dB sound pressure level (SPL)
what is the function of the outer ear?
Capture sound and focus it on tympanic membrane
Modest amplification (10DB) of upper range of speech frequencies by resonance in the canal.
Protect ear from external threats
what does the outer ear consist of?
Pinna
external auditory canal
where does the middle ear start?
at tympanic membrane
what is the function of the middle ear?
The main function of the middle ear is mechanical amplification (can provide an additional 20-30dB)
(by using leverage from incus-stapes joint to increase force on oval window)
how does the middle ear focus vibrations using pressure?
large surface area of tympanic membrane to small surface area of oval window, therefore increases pressure
what is the role of the cochlea?
hearing part of inner ear
transduces vibration to nervous impulses
It does so in a way that captures the frequency (or pitch) and intensity (or loudness) of the sound
what are the compartments of the cochlea?
scala vestibuli, scala media and scala tympani
what are the scala vestibuli and scala tympani?
bony compartments of cochlea, contain perilymph (high in Na+)
what is the scala media?
membranous compartment of cochlea, contains endolymph
This is where the hearing organ/organ of corti is located
what is the basilar membrane?
How is it arranged?
base of the organ of corti
Basilar membrane is arranged tonotopically, using the same principle as a xylophone
what is the function of the external auditory meatus?
guides sound waves to tympanic membrane
ceruminous glands secrete ear wax (cerumen) to trap foreign objects
what is the tympanic membrane?
ear drum
thin connective tissue membrane covered by skin externally and a mucous membrane internally
what is the function of auditory ossicles?
transmit vibration of tympanic membrane to oval window
what are the stapedius and tensor tympani?
skeletal muscles attached to auditory ossicles
protect ear from prolonged, loud but not explosive sounds
what is the eustachian/pharyngotympanic tube?
What does it do?
What is the disadvantage of it?
canal linking middle ear and nasopharynx
equalises middle ear pressure
but pathogens may travel through tube
what is the organ of corti?
What 2 types of hair cells does it contain
hearing organ
contains inner and outer hair cells
what is the arrangement of inner and outer hair cells in the organ of corti?
one row of inner hair cell to 3 rows of outer hair cells
Where is the tectorial membrane located and what is its function?
The tectorial membrane is above the hair cells and allows hair deflection, which in turn will depolarise the cell.
what is the role of inner hair cells?
IHC carry 95% of the afferent information of the auditory nerve. Their function is the transduction of the sound into nerve impulses.
what is the role of outer hair cells?
OHC carry 95% of efferents of the auditory nerve. Their function is modulation of the sensitivity of the response.
what are hairs of hair cells known as?
stereocilia
describe the process of transduction in the organ of corti?
What closes K+ channels?
deflection of stereocilia towards the longest cilium (kinocilium) opens K+ channels
depolarises the cell, neurotransmitter released (glutamate)
higher amplitudes cause greater deflection and more K+ channel opening
hyperpolarisation closes K+ channels
what is the auditory pathway?
Spiral ganglions via the vestibulo-cochlear nerve (8th Cranial nerve) travel to the ipsilateral cochlear nuclei (monoaural neurons) in the brainstem (pons)
Auditory information crosses at the superior olive level
After this point all connections are bilateral
travels to inferior colliculus in the brainstem
then medial geniculate body in thalamus
enters temporal lobe auditory cortex or goes to lanuage centre
Types of hearing loss based on anatomy of hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss: Problem is located in outer or middle ear.
Sensorineural hearing loss: The sensory organ (cochlear) or the nerve (auditory nerve). (90% of all hearing loss!)
Central hearing loss: Very rare and originates in the brain and brainstem
Types of hearing loss based on timing
Sudden hearing loss minutes to days
Progressive hearing loss months to years