Equilibrium and Hearing

Question 1

3 anatomic region

Answer 1

external ear
middle ear
inner ear

Question 2

auricle (external ear)

Answer 2

superficial portion, what we see on the outside, soundwaves collected

Question 3

external acoustic meatus (external ear)

Answer 3

canal to collect soudwaves

Question 4

tympanic membrane/eardrum (external ear)

Answer 4

amplifies sound waves

Question 5

cerumen

Answer 5

deep within external auditory meatus, gland produces waxlike secretion, traps particles from going further in the ear

Question 6

middle ear

Answer 6

• auditory tube connects middle ear to nasopharynx (regulates and drains pressure)
• auditory ossicles (small bones) transmit sound waves to inner ear (malleus, incus, stapes)

Question 7

inner ear

Answer 7

• within petrous portion of temporal bone
• equilibrium: utricle, saccule, semicircular canals (system of balance)
• hearing: cochlea

Question 8

pathway

Answer 8

auricle/pinna -> external acoustic meatus -> tympanic membrane (first 3 external) -> malleus -> incus -> stapes (second 3 are middle ear) -> oval window -> cochlea -> cochlear duct -> organ of corti -> cochlear nerve -> temporal lobe