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musical acoustics > properties of the ear > Flashcards

properties of the ear Flashcards

1
Q

What are the three regions of the human ear?

A

Outer ear, middle ear, inner ear

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2
Q

What is the function of the pinna?

A

Captures and localises sounds

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3
Q

What is the approximate length of the ear canal?

A

About 2.5 cm long

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4
Q

What is the resonance frequency of the ear canal?

A

Lowest being ~3500 Hz

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5
Q

What separates the outer ear from the middle ear?

A

The eardrum

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6
Q

What are the three bones in the middle ear?

A
  • Hammer
  • Anvil
  • Stirrup
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7
Q

What is the role of the ossicles?

A

Transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the oval window

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8
Q

Why are the ossicles necessary?

A

To overcome the impedance difference between air and cochlear fluid

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9
Q

What does impedance quantify?

A

The resistance of a system to be set into motion

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10
Q

What is the formula for impedance?

A

z = P/V

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11
Q

What is impedance matching?

A

The process of overcoming the impedance difference between air and cochlear fluid

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12
Q

What two factors contribute to impedance matching?

A
  • Difference in areas of oval window and eardrum
  • Lever action of the ossicles
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13
Q

What are hair cells in the cochlea responsible for?

A

Transmitting signals to the brain via the auditory nerve

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14
Q

What is the length of the auditory nerve?

A

About 3.5 mm long

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15
Q

What are the three parts of the cochlea?

A
  • Scala vestibuli (SV)
  • Scala media (SM)
  • Scala tympani (ST)
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16
Q

What is the function of the basilar membrane?

A

Acts as a frequency analyser

17
Q

How does the stiffness of the basilar membrane vary?

A

Stiffer closer to the oval window, more flexible closer to the helicotrema

18
Q

What is the range of audible frequencies?

A

20 Hz — 20,000 Hz

19
Q

What happens when sound waves arrive through the outer ear?

A

They set the eardrum into vibration

20
Q

What is a critical band?

A

Regions of the basilar membrane excited together by close frequency tones

21
Q

What is the critical band width below 500 Hz?

A

A region of ~100 Hz

22
Q

What phenomenon occurs when the frequency difference of tones is decreased below a critical band?

A

Roughness (dissonance)

23
Q

What is masking in auditory perception?

A

When a sound is inaudible due to the presence of a second sound

24
Q

How can a loud note mask a soft note?

A

If the soft note is in the critical band of the loud note

musical acoustics (5 decks)

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