Sensory Three - Hearing part one Flashcards
What range of sound can humans detect?
20 - 20,000hz
otherwise infra or ultrasound
What are the external structures of the ear?
Pinna
Concha
External Auditory meatus
Tympanic membrane (ear drum)
What is the function of the pinna?
Diffracts and focuses sound waves into the concha
Essential for localisation in the vertical plane.
Whats the function of the concha?
Resonator
Whats the function of the tympanic membrane?
Resonates with sound waves to transfer this energy to the middle ear
Whats the maximum time difference between the ears hearing a sound?
760ms
What is threshold?
The lowest intensity (dB) that can be heard of a sound at a particular frequency
What is the perception limit?
The highest intensity that can be heard of a particular frequency.
List the structure of the middle ear:
Middle ear cavity Eustachian tube (connects to pharynx) 3 Ossicles: - Malleus - Incus - Stapes 2 muscles - Tensor tympanic muscle - Stapedius muscle
What is the function of the middle ear?
Conducts sound from the tympanic membrane to the oval window of the cochlea.
What are the functions of the muscles in the middle ear?
The Attenuation reflex.
They contract in response to loud sounds making the ossicular tree very rigid to protect the inner ear and prevent conduction.
Takes 50-100ms to sttart so doesnt always work
When else does the attenuation relfex occur?
When we speak to prevent us from hearing our own voices
Describe the structure of the inner ear:
The cochlea and vestibule+semicircular canal= organ of balance.
While the cochlea is allows mechanical to electrical transduction of sound.
Which bone houses the cochlea?
The temporal bone
Describe the structure of the cochlea
Two parts:
- 3 fluid filled compartments
- Bony mateous, central structure containing auditory nerves and blood vessels
What are the three fluid compartments of the cochlea called?
Scala
What are two external structures of the cochlea?
Oval window (where the stapes inserts) Round window ( covered by a membrane)
Describe the scala of the cochlea:
Scala vestibuli - Seperated by membrane Scala media - Seperate by the organ of corti Scala tympani
Describe the fluids of the scala
Scala vestibuli and tympani are perilymphatic and contain fluid similar to ECF
Scala media has high K concentration and is considered similar to ICF and is endolympahtic
Why does the scala media contain high concentrations of K?
Its endolymphatic fluid generates the endocochlear potential