Physiology of Hearing Flashcards
What are mechanoreceptors?
- a somatosensory receptors
- relay extracellular stimulus to intracellular signal transduction through mechanically gated ion channels
- external stimuli are usually in the form of touch, pressure, stretching, sound waves, and motion
The normal range of sound that humans can hear is measured in decibels (DB) and is approximately 50-60DB. What can happen if our ears are repeatedly exposed to high amount of DB?
- high DB, which is pressure can damage hearing
Label the 3 parts of the outer ear in the image below, numbered 1-3 using the labels below:
- pinna/auricle
- tympanic membrane
- external auditory canal
1 - pinna/auricle
2 - external auditory canal
3 - tympanic membrane
Label the 2 parts of the middle ear in the image below, numbered 1-2 using the labels below:
- ossicles (MIS = Malleus, Incus and Stapes)
- eustachian tube
1 - ossicles (malleus, incus and stapes)
2 - eustachian tube
Label the 2 parts of the inner ear in the image below, numbered 1-2?
vestibule (with semi-circle canals)
cochlea
1 - cochlea
2 - vestibular apparatus (vestibular and semi-circle canals)
The ossicles in the middle ear are important for transmitting the vibrations from sound waves from the outer ear to the inner ear. What is the malleus and the stapes connected to?
- malleus = tympanic membrane (tympanic muscle)
- stapes = oval window (stapedius muscle)
There are 2 labyrinths in the inner ear, and both contain fluid. What are the names of the labyrinths and what fluid is contained within each?
- bony labyrinth = perilymph
- membranous labyrinth = endolymph
There are 2 labyrinths in the inner ear, the bony and membranous labyrinth, which contain perilymph and endolymph, respectively. What is the Na+ and K+ concentrations in these fluids?
- perilymph = high Na+ and low K+ similar to extracellular fluid
- endolymph = low Na+ and high K+ similar to intracellular fluid
Which nerve is in direct contact with the cochlea, and which cranial nerve (CN) is this a branch of?
- cochlea nerve
- branch of CN VIII (8) the vestibulocochlear nerve
Which spongy bone does the cochlea nerve and the spiral ganglion sit inside?
1 - modiolus bone
2 - temporal bone
3 - zygomatic bone
4 - mandiubular bone
1 - modiolus bone
The tubes of the cochlea are actually composed of 3 separate tubes. Label the tubes and the membrane using the labels below and what they contain (fluid wise).
- Scala vestibuli (perilymph)
- Scala media/cochlear duct (endolymph and the organ of Corti)
- Scala tympani (perilymph)
- basilar membrane
1 = scala vestibuli (perilymph)
2 = scala media/cochlear duct (endolymph and organ of Corti)
3 = scala tympani (perilymph)
4 = basilar membrane
What is the spiral ganglion?
- group of cell bodies
- neurons axons supply the hairs of the organ of corti
- synapses with the cochlea nerve
Of the 3 parts of the cochlea below, which 2 are are directly connected to the middle ear?
- scala vestibuli (perilymph)
- scala media/cochlear duct (endolymph and organ of Corti)
- scala tympani (perilymph)
- scala tympani connects with round window
- scala vestibuli connects with oval window
When we look at the middle tube of the cochlea, the scala media/cochlear duct, there are 2 membranes, one above and one below. What are these called?
1 - top membrane = vestibular membrane (close to scala vestibuli)
2 - bottom membrane = basilar membrane
The organ of corti contains mechanoreceptor hair cells, which include an inner and outer layer. Which of there layers is important for the following:
- sensory nerve fibres in charge of auditory transduction
- motor nerve fibre from the brain to contract or loosen the basilar membrane
- inner = sensory nerve fibres in charge of auditory transduction
- outer = motor nerve fibre from the brain to contract or loosen the basilar membrane (if its a loud noise then this is loosened so we don’t hear as much, but if its a whisper it tightens to accentuate the sound)
What is the tectorial membrane?
1 - gel like membrane attached to the modiolus at one end and free on the other end
2 - gel like membrane between basilar membrane and the hair cells
3 - gel like membrane surrounding the organ of corti
1 - gel like membrane attached to the modiolus at one end and free on the other end
- runs parallel to the basilar membrane throughout the cochlea with hair cells between the 2
- in direct contact with the stereocilia (cilia) of hair cells contained within the organ of corti