Chapter 5: Human Ear Flashcards
Why are Ears important?
For hearing and for maintaining our sense of balance.
What are the sections of the Ear?
The outer ear, the middle ear and inner ear.
What is the medical term for the fleshy outer ear?
The auricle or pinna.
The Auricle or Pinna is made up of?
Cartilage and skin.
What does the Pinna do?
Captures sound waves and transmits them into the external auditory canal.
What does the ear canal do?
Transmits wave sounds to the tympanic membrane (eardrum).
Where is the Tympanic membrane (eardrum) located?
Between the outer ear and middle ear.
What happens when sound waves strike the Tympanic membrane?
The membrane vibrates and transmits the vibrations further in, to the bones of the middle ear.
What are called the many glans that contains the skin lined with the ear canal?
Ceruminous glands, that secrete cerumen.
What does Cerumen combines with?
With dead skin cells to form earwax.
What does Earwax do?
Coats the ear canal to moisturize it, fight off infection and keep dust, dirt and other debris from entering the middle ear.
Where are the three smallest bone of the body found?
In the middle ear.
What are the name of the 3 smallest bone?
Malleus. Incus and Stapes
What is another name of Malleus?
Hammer.
What is another name of Incus?
Anvil.
What is another name of Stapes?
Stirrup.
What is the medical term for all of the 3 smallest bones in the body together?
The auditory ossicles.
What is the role of the Auditory ossicles?
To transmit the sound waves from the eardrum to the inner ear by vibrations.
What is the Eustachian tube?
Is the canal that connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx.
What does the Eustachian tube consist of?
Of the upper throat and the back of the nasal cavity.
What does the Eustachian controls?
The air pressure within the middle ear, making it equal with the air pressure outside the body.
What does the inner ear contains?
The sensory receptors for hearing and balance.
What are the basics receptors for hearing and balance?
Sensory cells, called hair cells.
What is the Oval Window?
The membrane that separates the middle ear from the inner ear.
Where does the vibrations enter the inner ear?
Through the Oval Window.
The Cochlea is shaped like a snail, what contains?
The spiral organ of Corti.
What is the Spiral Organ of Corti?
The receptor organ for hearing.
What does the Spiral Organ of Corti consist of?
Of tiny hair cells that translate the fluid vibration of sound.
Where does the Spiral Organ of Corti translate vibration of sound from?
From its surrounding ducts into electrical impulses that are carried to the brain by sensory nerves.
The Semicircular Canals are lined with hair cells and filled with a liquid substance known as?
Endolymph.
Every time the head moves, what moves the hair cells?
The Endolymph.
What does the movements of the hair cells provide?
Information about orientation to the brain to help maintain balance.
What is coming from the inner ear and running to the brain?
Is the eighth cranial nerve-the acoustic or auditory nerve.
What does the Auditory Nerve carries to the brain?
Balance and hearing information.
