Ear Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards
what 3 regions is the ear divided into?
external, middle, and internal
what is the inner ear associated with?
vestibular sense (equilibrium)
the outer ear consists of?
auricle (pinna), external auditory canal (meatus), and the tympanic membrane
purpose of the external auditory canal?
lined with ceruminous glands that secrete cerumen (ear wax) that traps & removes debris before it reaches tympanic membrane; also lubricates and waterproofs canal and tympanic membrane
what is the tympanic membrane?
thin sheet of epithelium and connective tissue
purpose of tympanic membrane?
separates outer and middle ear regions; transmits energy of sound waves
what is the auricle (pinna)?
elastic cartilage with fleshy lobule covered with skin
purpose of the auricle (pinna)?
funnels sound waves into external auditory canal
purpose of the pharyngotympanic tube?
connects nasopharynx with middle ear; equalizes air pressure on both sides of tympanic membrane
what does the middle ear consist of?
pharyngotympanic tube and auditory ossicles
what are auditory ossicles?
bones within the middle ear, named by their shapes and connected to one another
list the auditory ossicles
malleus, incus, and stapes
purpose of the auditory ossicles?
link tympanic membrane to outer wall of inner ear; amplify and convert incoming sound waves in air into fluid movement
what skeletal muscles are attached to ossicles?
tensor tympani and stapedius muscle
purpose of tensor tympani muscle?
tightens tympanic membrane by pulling it medially
purpose of stapedius muscle?
reduces movement of ossicles as unit
what is reflexive in middle ear?
prevents damage from loud sounds by reducing movement of both the tympanic membrane and ossicles
what are the 3 parts of the inner ear?
cochlea, vestibule, and semicircular canals
what are labyrinths?
network of serpentine pathways
what types of labyrinths are in the inner ear?
bony and membranous
what is bony labyrinth?
open passageways that make up inner ear chamber
what is membranous labyrinth?
membranes that line bony labyrinth
what is endolymph?
within membranous labyrinth; potassium ion concentration is greater than sodium ion concentration; similar to intracellular fluid
what is perilymph?
between bony and membranous labyrinths; sodium ion concentration is greater than potassium ion concentration; similar to extracellular fluid
what is the purpose of labyrinths?
transduce sound waves and head movements into electrical signals
what does the vestibule contain?
membranous oval window and utricle & saccule
what is the purpose of the vestibule?
information about head tilting and linear movement
what is the utricle & saccule?
two parts of membranous labyrinth that contain receptor cells
what are semicircular canals?
three tubes of membranous labyrinth
list the semicircular ducts
anterior, posterior, and lateral