Physiology of Auditory and Vestibular System Flashcards
What are characteristics of the basilar membrane near the oval and round windows?
narrow and stiff
HIGH frequency sounds (20,000 Hz)
What are characteristics of the basilar membrane near the helicotrema?
wider and flexible
LOW frequency sounds (20 Hz)
Auditory system
detects sound and uses acoustic cues to identify and locate sound sources in the environement
Sound
oscillations of air pressure that vary rapidly with time
Amplitude
sound pressure (intensity) specified by a scale of sound pressure level (SPL) in decibels
Frequency
number of oscillations of air pressure per second (Hz)
Tonotopy of inner ear
high frequency sounds produce maximal displacement at base (closest to stapes)
low frequency sounds produce maximal displacement at apex (furthest from stapes)
What does the vibration of the basilar membrane create?
pressure differential
What does the pressure differential in the inner ear cause?
shearing force against stationary tectorial membrane, causing the stereocilia of the outer hair cells to be displaced in that plane
How are the inner hair cells activated?
fluid movement in cochlear duct (not in direct contact with tectorial membrane)
How does depolarization of the hair cell occur?
opening of cation channels at the apex of sterocilia
How are TRPA1 channels open and what do these channels do?
stereocilia are connected to each other via tip links that transmit force to an elastic gating spring that open the TRPA1 channel
mechanotransduction channel: rapid response, do not require receptor potentials, increase sensitivity of the response
Endolymph
K+ rich filling the cochlear duct and membranous labyrinth Bathes apical end of hair cells Similar to ICF (high K+; low Na+) Found in scala media Produced by stria vascularis
Perilymph
K+ poor fluid
Bathes basal end of cochlear hair cells
Similar to ECF (high Na+; low K+)
Found in scala vestibuli and scala tympani
Steps in depolarization of a hair cell
1) TRPA1 ion channels open when tip links join
2) entry of K+ depolarizes hair cell
3) opens voltage-gated calcium channels at base
4) NT filled vesicles fuse with basilar membrane
5) NT released (glutamate) into the synaptic cleft
6) afferent cochlear nerve fibers stimulated and transmit signal to brain
Where are the tips of the stereocilia on the hair cells embedded?
tectorial membrane
Where are the bodies of the hair cells located?
basilar membrane
What does an upward displacement of the basilar membrane cause?
shearing force that results in lateral displacement of stereocilia
What does mechanical displacement of the stereocilia in a lateral direction cause?
depolarization of the hair cell