Eat structure & function Flashcards
responsible for hearing, balance, and equilibrium
ear
made of cartilage covered with skin; collects sound waves and channels them into the external auditory canal
pinna
slender tube that runs
from the external ear to the middle ear
external auditory canal
wall between the external
and middle ear that is commonly known as the eardrum; vibrates in response to sound waves
tympanic membrane (TM)
connects the middle ear to the throat; allows air movement between the inner ear and outer atmosphere
eustachian tube
vibrations of the tympanic membrane
cause these three tiny bones to move, which sends vibrations to the inner ear
ossicles
complex, mazelike anatomy of the inner ear
labyrinth
snail-shaped structure of the inner ear
lined with the Organ of Corti and filled with
perilymph; part of the vestibular system
cochlea
cochlea vibrations cause a disturbance of this pale, transparent fluid, which in turn disturb hair cells on the organ of Corti, transmitting impulses to the auditory nerve
perilymph
highly sensitive hearing structure
lining the inner surface of the cochlea
organ of Corti
located behind the ossicles,
the oval window and the round window; contains perilymph and endolymph; part of the vestibular system
semicircular canals
translates sound vibrations into nerve impulses; controls both static and dynamic equilibrium
vestibular system
sends nerve impulses to the brain
vestibulocochlear (auditory) nerve.
feeling a sense of balance
when at rest or not moving
Static equilibrium
sense of balance when we
are in motion
dynamic equilibrium
