Hearing Loss & Deafness

Question 1

what does the outer ear include?

Answer 1

the pinna (auricle) + external ear canal (external auditory meatus)

Question 2

what is the pinna?

Answer 2

the visible portion of the ear that is made up of elastic cartilage; its function is to collect sound waves and conduct them to the eardrum

Question 3

what is the external ear canal

Answer 3

also known as external auditory meatus, extends from the opening of the ear to the eardrum and produces earwax (cerumen) to protect the ear from foreign objects

Question 4

what does the middle ear consist of

Answer 4

lies between the inner ear and eardrum; has three moveable bones called ossicles (malleus, incus, stapes)

Question 5

what is the tympanic membrane

Answer 5

seperates the outer ear from the middle ear

Question 6

what is the tympanic cavity

Answer 6

also known as the middle ear, air-filled cavity connected to the throat by the eustachian tube

Question 7

what is happening when our ears “pop” during plane rides

Answer 7

the eustachian tube has allowed air in the middle ear to equalize with the pressure outside the head

Question 8

what is the eustachian tube

Answer 8

normally collapsed in adults, opens with yawning or swallowing, allows air pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane to equalize

Question 9

what are the ossicles

Answer 9

moveable bones in the middle ear called the malleus, incus, and stapes

Question 10

what does the inner ear consist of

Answer 10

cochlea (auditory) + semicircular canals (vestibular)

Question 11

what is the labrynth

Answer 11

also known as inner ear, fluid-filled cavity that lies deep in the temporal bone of the skull; it is important for hearing and maintaining balance + equilibrium

Question 12

what is the cochlea

Answer 12

part of the auditory system; snail-like appearance and has tiny hair cells to hear

Question 13

what are the semicircular canals

Answer 13

part of the vestibular system

Question 14

what is the eigth cranial nerve responsible for

Answer 14

also known as acoustic/auditory nerves; transmits nerve impulses from the inner ear to the brain; and has two branches: the cochlear nerve branch for hearing and the vestibular nerve branch for body balance and movement

Question 15

what is physiologic vertigo

Answer 15

conditions such as motion sickness, space sickness, and height vertigo, where there are no other conditions that cause these manifestations

Question 16

what is mal de debarquement syndrome

Answer 16

motion-induced vertigo when returning to the stationary ground after being in motion for a while (like getting off a ship)