Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

VMS 1008 > Physiology of Hearing > Flashcards

Physiology of Hearing Flashcards

1
Q

What is infrasound?

A

Sounds below the frequency of perception

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is ultrasound?

A

Sounds above the frequency of perception

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the middle ear cavity?

A

Air filled space that can adjust with changes in air pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the function of the auditory tube?

A

A narrow canal that is normally closed but opens with yawning or swallowing to balance pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the three auditory ossicles?

A

Malleus, Incus and Stapes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the function of the auditory ossicles?

A

Transmits vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear with minimal energy loss

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the cochlea?

A

Fluid filled coils that contain sensory cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are semi-circular canals?

A

fluid filled tubes that assist with balance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the function of the two small muscles tensor tympani and stapedius?

A

they contract to reduce movement of ossicles in response to high intensity sound

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Which canal is the uppermost canal (scala vestibuli) directly connected to?

A

The lowest canal (scala tympani)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are scali tympani and vestibuli filled with?

A

a fluid called perilymph

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the scala media?

A

The middle canal, it is separated from the lowest canal via a fibrous membrane called the basilar membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the name of the fluid that fills the scala media?

A

Endolymph

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the organ of Corti?

A

A sensory structure found in the scala media that processes sound information

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What occurs when the tympanic membrane oscillates?

A

Waves are transmitted via the ossicles onto the oval window, they can then travel along the basilar membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What does movement of the basilar membrane cause?

A

It causes the tectorial membrane of the sensory structure to be displaced

17
Q

What are stereocilia?

A

Actin based protrusions on auditory and vestibular sensory cells that are required for hearing and balance

18
Q

What occurs when the sensory cells bend in the direction of increasing sensory hair length?

A

Filaments that hold them together taughtened, the channels open which causes an influx of K+ and the they become depolarised

19
Q

What does depolarisation of the sensory cells cause?

A

Opening of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, the neurotransmitter

20
Q

What is the function of the otolith organs?

A

They sense linear acceleration

21
Q

What is the function of the semi-circular canals?

A

They sense angular acceleration in the head

22
Q

What do the signals from the semi-circular canals and otolith organs form?

A

They form the vestibular system and allow the vestibular system to trigger head and eye movements therefore allowing the retina to make a stable image

23
Q

What acceleration does the ultricle control?

A

horizontal acceleration

24
Q

What acceleration does the Saccule control?

A

Vertical acceleration

25
Q

What occurs in the otolith as the head moves?

A

differential movement of the otolith relative to the endolymph bends sensory hair cells

26
Q

What is a cupula?

A

a cup-shaped or dome-shaped object that senses rotation in the head

27
Q

What is echolocation?

A

using a series of high-pitched squeaks that reflect off of surfaces and objects

28
Q

When does the auditory tube open?

A

It owns with yawning or swallowing to help balance pressure

29
Q

What are the names of the two small muscles in the middle ear that contract to reduce movement of ossicles in response to high intensity sound?

A

tensor tympani and stapedius

30
Q

Why does the middle ear need to convert the sound energy from air to water?

A

The inner ear is full of fluid

31
Q

What is the function of the auditory canal?

A

It limits the frequencies that can reach the tympanic membrane

32
Q

What does the auditory canal contain?

A

glands that secrete earwax and small hairs that can trap debris

33
Q

What kind of ion channels do the ‘tip-links’ contain?

A

stretch-sensitive ion channels

VMS 1008 (20 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions