Hearing Science Module: The Ear (U of Colorado)

Question 1

The impedance of air is _______ than the impedance of the fluid filled cochlea.

Answer 1

lower

Question 2

Measuring ___ ___ of the middle ear can help diagnose problems in the middle ear

Answer 2

impedance changes

Question 3

__, __, and __ will change when there is a pathology

Answer 3

mass, stiffness, friction

Question 4

Middle ear muscles provide ___ by limiting the movement of the ossicles

Answer 4

attenuation

Question 5

Middle ear muscles provide

Answer 5

attenuation by limiting the movement of the ossicles

Question 6

The ossicles have a role as an

Answer 6

impedance matching transformer (impedence matcher) which matches the high impedance of the fluid-filled cochlea to the low impedance of the air-filled ear canal. This impedance matching ability facilitates an effective efficient transfer of energy to the inner ear.

Question 7

Structures of the middle ear

Answer 7

Tympanic membrane,

Ossicles, Middle ear muscles, Eustachian tube

Question 8

Middle ear ligaments support

Answer 8

ossicles during movement

Question 9

Middle ear muscles provide __ by __ the __ of the __

Answer 9

provide attenuation by limiting the movement of the ossicles

Question 10

Eustachian tube connects

Answer 10

middle ear to nasal cavity (nasopharynx)

Question 11

The facial nerve innervates which muscle of the middle ear

Answer 11

Stapedius

Question 12

The round window membrane is sometimes called the

Answer 12

Secondary Tympanic membrane

Question 13

The facial canal contains which nerve

Answer 13

The facial nerve (the 7th cranial nerve)

Question 14

What is the function of the facial nerve (the seventh cranial nerve)

Answer 14

To provide motor innovation to the muscles of facial expression and to transmit sensory information from the soft palate and tongue to the brain. The facial nerve also innervates the stapedius muscle

Question 15

The largest portion of TM is

Answer 15

Pars tensa

Question 16

What is the “nerve-to-stapedius”

Answer 16

The Facial nerve, because the facial nerve runs to the stapedius muscle (it innervates the stapedius)

Question 17

With the pulling of the ossicle chain, the muscle fibers __

Answer 17

Contract

Question 18

The acoustic reflex (stapedial reflex) will activate only when

Answer 18

there’s a change in impedance at F’s below 1.2 kHz

Question 19

The acoustic reflex only activates when there’s a change in impedance at frequencies below 1.2 kHz, which leaves a considerable limitation in protecting the __

Answer 19

cochlea