Chapter 8 - Vocab

Question 1

afferent fibers

Answer 1

ascending sensory nerves which carry info from the peripheral sense organ (organ of corti) to the brainstem

Question 2

efferent fibers

Answer 2

descending nerves, which bring information down from higher neural centers to the lower neural centers (ex: brainstem’s olivary complex to organ of corti)

Question 3

inner hair cells (rows, #, shape, slant)

Answer 3

single row, ~3500 total, somewhat pear shaped, slant towards OHCs

Question 4

outer hair cells (rows, #, shape, slant)

Answer 4

3 (or 4) parallel rows, ~12,000-15,000 total, test tube or cylinder shape, slant inward toward IHCs

Question 5

stereocilia

Answer 5

hair like projections located on top of each hair cell

Question 6

tectorial membrane

Answer 6

covers the organ of corti; tips of the OHC stereocilia are embedded in the membrane

Question 7

basilar membrane

Answer 7

vibrates in response to sound

Question 8

olivocochlear bundle (OCB)

Answer 8

series of nerves that come from the olivary complex in the auditory brainstem to the hair cells in the organ of corti

Question 9

uncrossed olivocochlear bundle (UCOCB)

Answer 9

ipsilateral: come from olive to cochlea on the same side

Question 10

crossed olivocochlear bundle (COCB)

Answer 10

contralateral: come from the olive to the cochlea on the other side