Lecture 17 Flashcards
How is sound generated?
Particles vibrate back and forth within a restricted area
The sound wave is travelling along the whole length
What is found with the compressed air?
many particles
What is found in rarefied air?
few particles
What is the unit of frequency?
Hz
- 1 peak per second: 1 Hz
- 1000 peaks per second 1000 Hz
What is amplitude?
Air pressure difference between peaks and troughs, expressed as decibels (dB)
What is the human hearing range?
20 - 20 000Hz
What forms the outer ear?
Pinna, auditory canal, tympanic membrane, oval window
What is the pinna?
Latin for “wing)
More sensitive to sounds from in front than behind
Convolutions of pinna play a role in sound localization in vertical direction (not horizontal)
Fixed in humans but mobile in other humans
What is the auditory canal?
Extends about 2.5cm into skull
Moves forward in through bone of the skull until it hits tympanic membrane
What is the tympanic membrane?
Vibrates backwards and forwards and causes movement in the ossicles in the middle ear
What is the oval window?
Moves backwards and forwards causing fluid movement in the cochlea
What are the ossicles of the middle ear?
Malleus (hammer)
Incus (anvil)
Stapes (stirrup)
- Malleus to incus has a rigid connection
- Incus to stapes has a flexible connection
How does the middle ear transfer sound?
Pressure spreads out on tympanic membrane to minimize sound
Pressure is concentrated in middle ear to amplify sound
How does the air to fluid transition transfer sound?
More resistance at oval window than at tympanic membrane
Must overcome resistance for sound to reach cochlea
Round window helps pressure to be relieved somewhere else
What are the inward and outward movements of the tympanic membrane called?
Inward - peak
Outward - trough
- Indent in round window retains same volume of fluid