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3 neuroscience > Auditory & Vestibular System > Flashcards

Auditory & Vestibular System Flashcards

1
Q

Which part of the outer ear amplifies sounds?
a) Pinna
b) Tympanic membrane
c) Ear canal
d) Ossicles

A

c) Ear canal

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2
Q

What is the role of the tympanic membrane?
a) Direct sound waves into the cochlea
b) Vibrate in response to sound waves
c) Amplify sound intensity
d) Convert sound into electrical signals

A

b) Vibrate in response to sound waves

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3
Q

The pinna is responsible for:
a) Amplifying sound intensity
b) Protecting the cochlea
c) Directing sound waves into the ear canal
d) Equalizing pressure in the middle ear

A

c) Directing sound waves into the ear canal

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4
Q

The ossicles consist of:
a) Malleus, incus, and cochlea
b) Tympanic membrane, malleus, and stapedius
c) Malleus, incus, and stapes
d) Cochlea, oval window, and stapes

A

c) Malleus, incus, and stapes

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5
Q

The middle ear transmits sound from the tympanic membrane to the:
a) Cochlea
b) Oval window
c) Pinna
d) Round window

A

b) Oval window

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6
Q

The attenuation reflex protects the ear by:
a) Amplifying sound through the ossicles
b) Reducing sound transmission via stapedius muscle contraction
c) Increasing fluid motion in the cochlea
d) Closing the ear canal during loud sounds

A

b) Reducing sound transmission via stapedius muscle contraction

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7
Q

What is the purpose of the Eustachian tube in the middle ear?
a) Amplify sounds
b) Equalize air pressure
c) Direct vibrations to the cochlea
d) Support the ossicles

A

b) Equalize air pressure

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8
Q

The cochlea is part of the:
a) Outer ear
b) Middle ear
c) Inner ear
d) Vestibular system

A

c) Inner ear

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9
Q

The basilar membrane is responsible for:
a) Generating sound waves
b) Supporting the hair cells
c) Maintaining air pressure
d) Transmitting sound to the middle ear

A

b) Supporting the hair cells

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10
Q

Sound waves peak at different points along the basilar membrane because of:
a) Fluid motion in the scala tympani
b) Variations in stiffness (tonotopy)
c) Cross-link filaments in stereocilia
d) Sound amplification by the ossicles

A

b) Variations in stiffness (tonotopy)

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11
Q

Hair cells are located in the:
a) Cochlear nucleus
b) Tympanic membrane
c) Organ of Corti
d) Round window

A

c) Organ of Corti

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12
Q

Stereocilia on hair cells are embedded in the:
a) Tectorial membrane
b) Oval window
c) Basilar membrane
d) Scala vestibuli

A

a) Tectorial membrane

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13
Q

The bending of stereocilia triggers:
a) Amplification of sound waves
b) Release of neurotransmitters
c) Fluid flow in the cochlea
d) Vibration of the round window

A

b) Release of neurotransmitters

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14
Q

Fluid movement in the scala vestibuli is initiated by:
a) Sound waves reaching the pinna
b) Vibration of the stapes against the oval window
c) Movement of the tympanic membrane
d) Compression of the cochlear nerve

A

b) Vibration of the stapes against the oval window

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15
Q

Tonotopy refers to:
a) Intensity encoding in hair cells
b) Frequency-specific vibrations along the basilar membrane
c) Localization of sound sources
d) Bilateral input processing in the brainstem

A

b) Frequency-specific vibrations along the basilar membrane

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16
Q

How does the basilar membrane differentiate sound frequencies?
a) By varying the density of hair cells
b) Through differences in stiffness along its length
c) By changing the length of stereocilia
d) Through synaptic connections with different neurons

A

b) Through differences in stiffness along its length

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17
Q

What role does the round window play in hearing?
a) Transduces sound waves into neural signals
b) Prevents excessive pressure buildup in the cochlea
c) Amplifies sound vibrations
d) Equalizes pressure in the middle ear

A

b) Prevents excessive pressure buildup in the cochlea

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18
Q

Which structure integrates sound from both ears?
a) Cochlear nucleus
b) Superior olive
c) Round window
d) Basilar membrane

A

b) Superior olive

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19
Q

Sound intensity is encoded by:
a) Direction of stereocilia bending
b) Number and firing rate of activated hair cells
c) Thickness of the tectorial membrane
d) Vibration speed of the tympanic membrane

A

b) Number and firing rate of activated hair cells

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20
Q

Interaural time delay (ITD) helps in:
a) Identifying sound frequency
b) Determining the vertical location of sound
c) Localizing sound in the horizontal plane
d) Balancing sound pressure

A

c) Localizing sound in the horizontal plane

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21
Q

High-frequency sounds are localized by:
a) Interaural time delay
b) Interaural intensity delay
c) Reflection from the pinna
d) Movement of the Eustachian tube

A

b) Interaural intensity delay

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22
Q

The pinna helps localize sound in the vertical plane by:
a) Amplifying sound waves
b) Detecting interaural time differences
c) Creating asymmetry between direct and reflected sounds
d) Directing sound waves into the cochlea

A

c) Creating asymmetry between direct and reflected sounds

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23
Q

Sensorineural hypoacusis is caused by:
a) Blockage in the ear canal
b) Loss of hair cells or nerve damage
c) Eustachian tube malfunction
d) Rupture of the tympanic membrane

A

b) Loss of hair cells or nerve damage

24
Q

Tinnitus may result from:
a) Fluid imbalance in the middle ear
b) Damage to hair cells
c) Stapedius muscle overactivity
d) Eustachian tube blockage

A

b) Damage to hair cells

25
Q

Hearing aids work by:
a) Replacing damaged hair cells
b) Amplifying sound signals
c) Bypassing the auditory nerve
d) Redirecting sound to the cochlear nucleus

A

b) Amplifying sound signals

26
Q

Cochlear implants bypass the:
a) Tympanic membrane
b) Oval window
c) Hair cells
d) Auditory nerve

A

c) Hair cells

27
Q

Otolith organs detect:
a) Rotational movements
b) Linear acceleration
c) High-frequency sound waves
d) Changes in air pressure

A

b) Linear acceleration

28
Q

Semicircular canals are responsible for detecting:
a) Linear movements
b) Angular rotation of the head
c) Sound localization
d) Changes in air pressure

A

b) Angular rotation of the head

29
Q

Vertigo is often caused by:
a) Damage to the cochlear nerve
b) Otolith displacement in semicircular canals
c) Eustachian tube malfunction
d) Excessive sound exposure

A

b) Otolith displacement in semicircular canals

30
Q

Sound properties

A

Sound wave: audible vibration propagated through air (changes in air pressure) or another medium.
• Frequency (cycles per second)àpitch
• Intensity or wave amplitudeàloudness
• Timbreàcolor / quality

31
Q

Outer ear

A

Pinna or auricle: direct sounds
Ear cannal: amplify sounds (echo)
Tympanic membrane: vibrates

32
Q

Middle ear (transmission)

A

Transmission:
Tympanic membrane → Ossicles (Malleus, Incus, Stapedius, MIS) → Oval window (cochlea)
Middle ear is filled with air (Eustachian tube)

33
Q

Middle ear (sound amplification)

A

Sound amplification:
Smaller but stronger movements by ossicles + smaller surface of oval window (more pressure)

34
Q

Middle ear (Attenuation reflex)

A

Attenuation reflex:
When loud noises, stapedius ms contracts, more rigidity of ossicles (protect inner ear) [facial paralysis]

35
Q

2 parts inner ear

A

2 parts:
• Superior = vestibular system
• Inferior = Cochlea = Auditory system

36
Q

Inner ear (transmission)

A

Transmission:
Oval window → fluid motion (scala vestibuli to scala tympani)→round window

37
Q

inner ear (elements)

A

Elements:

  1. Cochlea = bony structure with 3 fluid-filled chambers
  2. Basilar membrane = flexible structure, bends with fluid pressure
  3. Organ of Corti = contains auditory rc (hair cells)
38
Q

Inner ear (working mechanisms)

A
  1. Stapedius impacts on oval window and creates a vibration
  2. Vibration passes to the perylimph of the scala vestibuli
  3. When waves flow through the fluid, they create waves in the basilar membrane.
    a) The membrane has different stiffness along its length
    b) Each wave will peak at different points (tonotopy)
  4. Movement of the basilar membrane bends stereocilia
39
Q

inner ear (hair cells)

A

Rc located in the organ of Corti
Each has 10-300 hairy-looking stereocilia. Stereocilia end in the tectorial membrane Stuck together by cross-link filaments

40
Q

Neural pathways (key aspects)

A

From cochlear nuclei upwards, structures receive bilateral input (both ears).
Extensive feedback

41
Q

Sound encoding

A

Frequency accounted for by tonotopy Intensity (loudness):
• Number of activated cells
• Firing rate of those cells

42
Q

Sound localization (Interaural time delay (ITD))

A

Difference in temporal arrival of sound between ears. Straight ahead = 0 msec //perpendicular = 0.6 msec: especially low frequencies

43
Q

Sound localization (Curves of the pinna)

A

Direct sound + reflect sound = Cue for sound elevation (vertical plane) by the difference between 1st and 2nd sound→asymmetry to identify direction

44
Q

Sound localization (Interaural Intensity delay (IID)

A

Difference in sound intensity between ears: high frequencies

45
Q

Auditory impairments: types

A

Conduction hypoacusis
Sensorineural hypoacusis
Tinnitus: phantom sounds (buzzing, whistling, etc)

46
Q

Tinnitus: phantom sounds (buzzing, whistling, etc)

A

Ethiology: Infection, drugs, aging…
Cause: Rupture or bending of hairy cells, increase in cavity’s pressure (transitory?, treatment of basal condition)

47
Q

Conduction hypoacusis

A

Ethiology: Mechanical difficulty in outer or middle ear: esrwax, otitis, eustachian, tube blockage
Cause: Poor sound conduction (transitory, intervention)

48
Q

Sensorineural hypoacusis

A

Ethyology: Drug, toxins, loud sounds, aging…
Cause: Disturbance in auditory signal transduction (loss of auditory hair cells, nerve damage…) (permanent)

49
Q

Auditory impairments: treatment (hearing aid)

A

Sound amplification
Microphone: Converts sound into electrical signal. Amplifier: Increases the intensity of the sound. Receiver: Emits amplified sound into the ear.

50
Q

Auditory impairments: treatment
(Cochlear implant)

A

Sound transmission directly to the cochlea (nerve must be spared)
Microphone: Registers sounds (and speech) into electrical signal.
Digital processor: Decodes sounds (and speech).
RF link – transmitter-receiver: sends info through scalp + converts into electrical signal.
Implant: In the cochlea, stimulates nerve at different points depending on sound frequency.

51
Q

Vestibular system

A

Provides information about gravity, rotation and acceleration.
Allows for:
• Detection of linear and angular direction
• Sense of orientation
• Failure of vestibular information being integrated
with other sense can results in i.e. out of body experiences
• Gaze and postural stability (balance and equilibrium)
At the interface of sensory and motor systems

52
Q

Vestibular system (inner ear)

A

Vestibular system evolved together with hearing organs → shared structure (inner ear) + Rc (hair cells)
Different nerve (Scarpa’s ganglion).
2 parts:
• Superior = vestibular system→Otolith organs + semicircular canals.
• Inferior = Cochlea = Auditory system

53
Q

Vestibular system
Otolith organs

A

Structures:
Rc Nerve
Subcortical
Cortex
Hair cells embedded in otholitic membrane Otoliths on top of OM (weight, like stones)
Stimulation:
Movement in specific direction → otolithic membrane moves →hair cells bend→depolarization
Directions:
Utricle = Acceleration in horizontal plane (car) Saccule = A. in vertical plane (lift)

54
Q

Vestibular system
Semicircular canals

A

Structures:
Rc Nerve
Subcortical
Cortex
3 canals (90o) ending in a dilation (ampula) where we find crista ampullaris = cluster of mechanoRc
Stimulation:
Movement in specific direction → movement of endolymph through the canal→ “collides” with cresta ampullaris →bending of mechanoRc → depolarization
Directions:
Angular movements I the 3 planes (head nodding, denying, tilting)

55
Q

Vestibular system alteration: Vertigo

A

Symptoms:
Dizziness, instability, loss of balance, sickness, nausea, vomits…
Causes:
Inner ear infection, Head trauma, Surgical interventions
Physiology:
Otoliths in semicircular canals, fluid or infection in inner ear…
Treatment:
Self resolution, head movement exercises, antidiuretics, antibiotics, surgical intervention

56
Q

Vestibular implant

A

Early stages of development
Patients with bilateral vestibular loss
Posture, gait, and quality of life show tendency of imporvement but hearing was reduced.
Chow et al., NEJM, 2021

3 neuroscience (17 decks)

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