Hearing

Question 1

what is the mode of operation and function of the following:

• outer ear
• middle ear
• inner ear
• central auditory nervous system

Answer 1

* outer ear
-mode of operation: air vibration
-function: Protection, Localisation + Amplification (like a funnel)

* middle ear
-mode of operation: mechanical vibration
-function: Impedance matching (small tympanic displacement translated into big oval window displacement), Pressure equalisation + Inner ear stimulation

* inner ear
-mode of operation: mechanical, hydrodynamic, and electrochemical
-function: Sound filtering +
Signal transduction

* central auditory nervous system
-mode of operation: electrochemical
function: info processing