Ear Assessment Flashcards
External Ear includes
external auditory canal and tympanic membrane
external auditory canal
opening of external ear
tympanic membrane
ear drum; translucent membrane with a pearly gray color
separates the external and middle ear
Middle Ear
tiny ear filled cavity inside the temporal bone
Middle Ear includes
malleus, incus, stapes, and eustachian tube
malleus
tiny ear bones or auditory ossicles
incus
tiny ear bones or auditory ossicles
stapes
tiny ear bones or auditory ossicles; opens to TM
Eustachian tube
connects middle ear with nasopharynx and allows passage of air
tube is normally closed, but it opens with swallowing or yawning
Functions of the Middle Ear
a. Conducts sound vibrations from the outer ear to the central hearing apparatus in the inner ear
b. Protects the inner ear by reducing the amplitude of loud sounds
c. Eustachian Tube - allows equalization of air pressure on each side of the TM so that the membrane does not rupture
Inner Ear consists of a
bony labyrinth and cochlea
Bony Labyrinth
holds sensory organs for equilibrium and hearing
Bony Labyrinth consists of
vestibules and semicircular canals
vestibule
compose the vestibular apparatus
semicircular canals
compose the vestibular apparatus
cochlea
contains the central hearing apparatus
Hearing: Peripheral
ear transmits sound and converts its vibrations into electrical impulses which can be analyzed by the brain
Hearing: Brain Stem
binaural interaction
permits locating the direction of a sound in space as well as identifying the sound