Ears Flashcards
T/F: The receptors in the inner ear responsible for our senses of hearing and balance are all mechanoreceptors called hair cells
True
T/F: The saccules, utricles, cochlea and semicircular canals are located in the middle ear.
False
The [tragus/ antitragus/ helix/ antihelix/ concha] is the thickened, outer rim of the ear pinnae.
helix
Sound energy (vibrations) enter the inner ear largely through the structure termed the [scala tympani/ round window/ oval window/ tympanic membrane (eardrum)].
oval window
The organs of hearing are found in the [cochlea/ saccule / utricle / semicircular canals].
cochlea
The [cochlea/ vestibule/ semicircular ducts] is/are the part(s) of the inner ear which report(s) on linear acceleration of the head, and somewhat on its position in space.
vestibule
The [utricle/ saccule] is the vestibular organ that reports on anterior-posterior and left-to-right linear accelerations
utricle (the one who’s hair cells point upwards)
The [utricle/ saccule] is the vestibular organ that reports on anterior-posterior and up-down linear accelerations
Saccule (the one whose hair cells point sideways)
[Lymph/ perilymph/ endolymph] contains low K+ concentrations and fills the membranous labyrinths without mixing with CSF (cerebrospinal fluid).
endolymph
[Lymph/ perilymph/ endolymph] contains high K+ concentrations, mixes with CSF, and fills the bony labyrinths
perilymph
The [cochlea/ vestibule/ semi-circular canals (ducts)] is/are the part(s) of the inner ear which report(s) on angular movements (accelerations) of the head in any of three perpendicular planes in space.
semicircular canals (ducts)
The [tragus/ antitragus/ helix/ antihelix/ concha] is a small flap of skin-covered cartilage which lies over the external auditory meatus.
tragus
The outer layer of the eardrum is composed of [cutaneous / mucous / serous / connective ] tissue, while the inner (medial) layer is composed of [cutaneous / mucous / serous / connective ] tissue.
cutaneous, mucous
The ______________ ear consists of that part of the ear from the pinna to the tympanic membrane.
outer
____________________________ hearing loss occurs as a result of loss of function of the cochlear hair cells, vestibulocochlear nerve, or hearing centers in the brain
Sensorineural
____________________________ hearing loss results from inefficient or no conduction of sound vibrations from the eardrum into the cochlea
Conduction
____________________________ is hardening of the ossicles of the middle ear—ossification of the joints between the ossicles— resulting in conduction problems, including conduction deafness.
Otosclerosis
List the ossicles in order from the tympanic membrane to the oval window? (don’t MISs this one!)
(eardrum)-malleus-incus-stapes-(oval window)
Describe the function of the stapedius and tensor tympani muscles.
They dampen the vibrations of the eardrum and ossicles, to help protect the delicate inner ear from overly loud sounds
The equilibrium organ most responsible for sensing the sudden vertical descent is/are…
The saccules: since utricular hairs point straight upwards, they will not be deflected by vertical ascents or descents
Consist of malleus, incus & stapes; use mechanical leverage to amplify vibrations of eardrum and pass them on to the cochlea.
Ossicles
Receives vibrations from the stapes and transfers them into the cochlea
Oval window
Translates vibrations into receptor potentials
Hair cells
The fluid filled chamber where incoming vibrations are sorted out into component frequencies and ultimately converted into action potentials; contains basilar membrane, hair cells, scala tympani, scala vestibuli, etc.
Cochlea
