LO6 Flashcards
What is the ‘stapes’:
a small bone that transmits sound vibrations within the ear
What is the organ of corti?
- found in the cochlea
- contains rows of hair cells that convert sound vibrations into nerve impulses
What is the round window?
An opening covered by a membrane that allows movement of fluid in the cochlea
What is the eardrum?
a thin layer of tissue that recieves sound vibrations and transmits them to the middle ear cavity
What is the cochlea?
contains a jelly-like fluid in a tube that resembles a snail’s shell; vibrations pass through the fluid and are converted to neural messages which are then passed to the brain.
What is the eustachian tube?
connects the middle ear to the throat; ensures the pressure in middle ear is equal to the pressure outside the ear
What is the auditory nerve?
bundle of nerve fibres that carry hearing information between the cochlea and the brain
What are the semi-circular canals and ampullae?
tiny fluid-filled tubes in the inner ear that help with balance
Which nerve carries impulses from the ear to the brain:
auditory nerve
Which nerve carries impulses from the eye to the brain:
optic nerve
What is the pupil?
the opening in the middle of the eye through which light passes
What is the iris?
visible coloured ring at the front of the eye
- it adjusts to control the amount of light entering the eye through pupil
What are the tear glands?
- produce tears to clean the front of the eye
- fluid contains salt and natural antiseptic to defend against infection
What are the aqueous and vitreous humours?
watery jelly-like fluids that fill the eye
- they keep the eye in shape and nourish it
What is the conjunctiva?
a thin membrane that protects the cornea
What is the cornea?
the front of the eye and is transparent; light rays pass through the cornea to the retina
What is the retina?
the inner lining of the eye; contains light sensitive cells called rods and cones
What is the macula?
high concentration of photoreceptor cells; these detect light and send signals to the brain which interprets them as images
What is the optic nerve?
where the nerve cells exit the eye
- no rods or cones so is called the blind spot
What is the ciliary muscle?
enables the lens to change for focusing
- it contracts to stretch the lens, making it flatter and thinner
What are the suspensory ligaments?
they attach the lens to the ciliary muscle
What does the lens do?
focuses light entering the eye
Which structures are found within the inner ear?
- auditory nerve
- semi-circular canals
- cochlea
Which ear structure contains ampullae?
semi-circular canals
Which ear structure is lined with tiny hairs and helps us to maintain balance?
semi-circular canals
What are the possible effects of deafness?
- difficulty with communication - hearing what other people say
- social isolation
- fustration
- low self-esteem
What are the treatments available to someone who is deaf?
- ear drops to dissolve blockages
- hearing aids to make sound clearer
- antibiotics to treat ear infections
Which part of the brain processes sensory information from the ear?
cerebral cortex
