Parts Of The Ear And Hearing Flashcards
Outer ear
Collects sound from air and directs it through the ear canal
Eardrum (tympanic membrane)
A membrane that vibrates when sound hits it
Oval window
A membrane that separates middle ear from inner ear, sends vibrations to the cochlea
Cochlea
A fluid-filled membrane in the inner ear, it’s pressure changes stimulate hair cells
Hair cells
Auditory receptor cells that initiate nerve impulses
Sound waves
Vibrations that stimulate auditory receptors
Amplitude
The height of a wave (loudness), the pressure exerted by each air particle
Frequency
The length of a wave (pitch), the time between two points of maximum amplitude
Place theory
Hair cells respond to different frequencies of sound based on their location in the cochlea
Frequency theory
Hair cells fire at different rates in the cochlea, allowing us to sense pitch
Smell (olfaction)
Information gathered from chemicals in the air. Inhaled molecules excite receptors in the olfactory epithelium.
Taste
Sensory receptors in taste buds of tongue sensitive to salty, sour, bitter, and sweet
Skin senses
Information from the skin, including pressure, pain, warmth,and cold
Vestibular senses
Receptors in semicircular canal of inner ear sense how our body is oriented, maintain balance, and locates our head in space
Kinesthetic sense
Receptors in muscles, tendons, joints give information about our limbs
