Hearing and Equilibrium

Question 1

what is the stimulus for hearing?

Answer 1

The stimulus for hearing is sound waves of pressure in some medium.

Question 2

what is frequency?

Answer 2

Frequency is the number of wave peaks per second, perceived by us as pitch.

Question 3

what is amplitude and what dies it determine?

Answer 3

Amplitude is the pressure difference between the peak and the trough of a pressure wave. It determines our perception of loudness.

Question 4

what are the division are ear Anatomy? what does the inner ear contain andm what do they do?

Answer 4

The ear is divided into external, middle, and inner ear. The middle ear contains the ossicles that transmit vibrations to the oval window.

Question 5

what is the frequency Range or humans compared to animals?

Answer 5

Humans can hear frequencies from about 16 to 20,000 hertz. Some animals can hear outside this range, like bats sensing up to 200 kilohertz.

Question 6

what makes up the Ossicles, where are they located, what is their job?

Answer 6

The malleus, incus, and stapes are the ossicles in the middle ear. They act as a lever system to transmit sound vibrations to the inner ear.

Question 7

what is the Cochlea?

Answer 7

Part of the inner ear that contains the auditory receptor cells and plays a crucial role in the process of hearing.

Question 8

what is the Scala Vestibuli?

Answer 8

One of the fluid-filled spaces in the cochlea that contains perilymph and leads away from the oval window towards the helicotrema.

Question 9

what is the Scala Tympani?

Answer 9

Another fluid-filled space in the cochlea that contains perilymph and leads towards the round window from the helicotrema.

Question 10

what is the Scala Media?

Answer 10

The third fluid-filled space in the cochlea that contains endolymph and is sealed off from the vestibular and tympanic ducts, housing the organ of Corti.

Question 11

what is the Organ of Corti?

Answer 11

Located in the scala media, it contains the auditory receptor cells (hair cells) responsible for converting sound vibrations into neural signals.

Question 12

what is the Basilar membrane?

Answer 12

Structure in the cochlea that vibrates to different frequencies of sound, allowing the brain to determine pitch.

Question 13

what is the Cochlear nuclei?

Answer 13

Brainstem structures that receive auditory signals from the cochlea and send information to both sides of the brain.

Question 14

what is Conductive hearing loss?

Answer 14

Type of hearing loss caused by problems in the external or middle ear that hinder sound transmission.

Question 15

what is the Primary auditory cortex?

Answer 15

Area in the brain’s temporal lobe where auditory information is processed and interpreted.

Question 16

what is Sensorineural hearing loss?

Answer 16

Type of hearing loss resulting from damage to the inner ear structures, including hair cells.

Question 17

what is Central hearing loss?

Answer 17

Type of hearing loss due to damage in the auditory cortex or pathways, leading to difficulty in interpreting sounds.

Question 18

Rinne test

Answer 18

Clinical test using a tuning fork against the mastoid bone to differentiate between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

Question 19

Conductive loss

Answer 19

It occurs when sound energy transmission through the skull is better than through the ear, indicating a problem in sound conduction in the ear canal or middle ear.

Question 20

Weber test

Answer 20

A test where a tuning fork is held against the patient’s forehead to determine in which ear the sound is louder, helpful in identifying sensorineural or conductive hearing loss.

Question 21

Sensorineural loss

Answer 21

A type of hearing loss where sound is louder in the good ear due to the inability of the affected ear to receive sound energy, often caused by inner ear issues.

Question 22

Vestibular apparatus

Answer 22

A structure containing sensors for equilibrium that consists of the utricle, saccule, and semicircular canals, helping detect head tilts, accelerations, and rotations.

Question 23

Equilibrium

Answer 23

A system essential for balance and spatial orientation involving the vestibular apparatus, which sends information mainly to the cerebellum to help keep the body upright.