Inner Ear Review 3 Flashcards
What is the partition consisted of?
BM, tectorial membrane, organ of corti
Tonotopic arrangement
Different regions of the basilar membrane vibrate at different sinusoidal frequencies due to variations in thickness and width along the length of the membrane
he place of basilar membrane motion is thought to be directly related to perceived
pitch
Process of the hair cells transmitting NT to the cochlear nerve
- Tectorial membrane moves and stimulates the stereocilia
- Links on the stereocilia open to allow potassium to flow into the cell (depolarizes)
- Calcium flows into the cell through ion channels
- Triggers glutamate+ to go to the synaptic cleft
Process of the refractory period after a hair cell fires
- Potassium is reabsorbed into the cortilymph
- Stria vascularis takes up potassium again to recycle it into the endolymph
If the fluid moves the hair cells from tall to short, this will:
Inhibit the influx of potassium (hyperpolarize)
What factors help us sensory code sounds?
intensity frequency pitch
Why do we need the hair cells to “sharpen” the incoming signals?
to differentiat between pitches/frequencies (aka active mechanism)
Absolute refractory period
time during which another action potential is impossible; limits maximal firing rate
relative refractory period
the period of time following an action potential, when it is possible, but difficult, for the neuron to fire a second action potential, due to the fact that the membrane is further from threshold potential (hyperpolarized)
4 characteristics of an action potential
- Self propogating
- Forward transmission
- Unidirectional
- No degradation over time
the place of the basilar membrane motion is related to ____
frequency and pitch
the BM is ____ and ____ at the base
narrow and stiff (high frequencies)
the BM is ____ and ____ at the apex
wide and floppy (low frequencies)
what type of frequencies are more suceptible to damage?
high frequencies (at the base, get all input all the time)
primary function of inner hair cells
send information about sound to the brain
axosomatic
nerves that connect an axon to a soma
shape of outer hair cells
test tube shaped, don’t have a bulge
shape of inner hair cells
flask shaped, have a bulge in the middle
what are the main afferents?
IHC
What are the main efferents?
OHCs
What is the kinocilium?
guiding body for the hair cell stereocilia to align during embryologic development
What happens to kinocilium after birth?
becomes rudimentary
stereocilia are arranged by what factor
height
stereocilia connect to each other through
tips and side links
What is one major difference in OHC?
lined with prestin (matrix like format and form of muscle tissue for movement)
how many OHC do humans have?
12,000
How many IHC do we have (in total)?
4,000
Are frequency ranges among different species the same?
no, vary due to the size of hearing systems