L32 Auditory System Flashcards
how is sound generated?
by mechanical vibrations that generate pressure waves in the medium they are traveling in (Air, water etc.)
high pressure waves have a ____ number of molecules per volume
higher
low pressure waves have a ____ number of molecules per volume
low
define frequency, what are it’s units?
tone or pitch
measured in Hz (cycles per second)
what is the range of frequency that the human ear can hear?
20-20,000 Hz
define amplitude, what are it’s units?
intensity or loudness
measured in dB
normal breathing = 10 dB
jet engine = 150 dB
what are the steps involved in sound production?
- sound pressure waves enter EAM
- produce vibrations on tympanic membrane
- sound is amplified down the chain of ossicles (malleus, incus, stapes)
- final ossicle vibrates the stapes which vibrates the oval window located in the cochlea
- organ of corti in cochlea does signal transduction
- hair cells transmit signal down CN8 which is the first element of the auditory pathway
Because the tympanic membrane is ___ larger than the oval window, the force increases by ___because the area decreased by 20x (remember that F=P/A so if A↓, F↑)
20X
20X
what is the role of the chain of ossicles
act like a lever-arm which further amplifies the sound
overall, how much does the middle ear amplify the pressure force
70-100x
describe the Scala vestibuli and tympani - what are they filled with? what is the fluid composition similar to?
are continuous with each other
are filled with perilymph which has an
ionic composition that is similar to ECF
describe the Scala media- what are they filled with? Why is there a high K+ concentration in endolymph in the scala media
filled with endolymph and is high
in K+ due to secretions from the Stria Vascularis
what is the function of the basilar membrane
separates the Media from the
Tympani and supports the Organ of Corti
what is contained within the organ or corti, what is that bathed in, why is this necessary
contains the hair cells which
are bathed in the endolymph compartment and
is necessary because of the high K+ concentration needed by the hair cells for signal transduction
how do sound waves travel from the stapes to the cochlea
Movement of the stapes produces pressure on the oval window which moves the fluids within the cochlea
*This movement of fluids (not compression) is best described as traveling waves which are translated to the basilar membrane
how do sound waves travel from the stapes to the cochlea
Movement of the stapes produces pressure on the oval window which moves the fluids within the cochlea
*This movement of fluids (not compression) is best described as traveling waves which are translated to the basilar membrane
the basilar membrane acts as a _____ for sound frequencies. explain
“Place Code”
the amount of deflection of the basilar membrane is based on its mechanical properties at that particular point in the membrane
the basilar membrane acts as a _____ for sound frequencies. explain
“Place Code”
the amount of deflection of the basilar membrane is based on its mechanical properties at that particular point in the membrane
describe the base (close to oval window) of the basilar membrane? - describe, what type of frequency does it respond to?
narrow and stiff
HIGH frequencies
describe the apex (near the helicotrema) of the basilar membrane - describe, what type of frequency does it response to?
wide and floppy
LOW frequencies
define the envelope of waves?
the sum of the deflection of the basilar membrane at different stages of the travel of the wave
which as we now know exhibits variations from base to apex
what are inner hair cells responsible for
signal transduction
What do traveling waves on the basilar membrane cause a deflection of?
cilia on the hair cells that are attached to the basilar membrane
what is the role of the outer hair cells?
amplifying the deflection of the basilar
membrane and therefore amplifying the output signal
The outer hair cells have _____that cause them to _____ in the event of a depolarization
motor proteins
shorten
what happens if the shortening across many outer hair cells takes place in proper sync?
they can help push and pull the basilar membrane such that its deflection is maximized thus amplifying the outgoing signal.
what Brodmann’s area is associated with the primary auditory cortex A1? what part of the cortex does that make up?
Broadmann Area 41 and 42
comprise
the transverse temporal gyri
how is the primary auditory cortex organized - explain organization related to frequency and columns
topographical organization of A1 = tonotopic
organized by frequency sensitivity along the rostro-caudal axis
organized in columns that
are grouped according to their
pattern of input