Special Senses Functions

Question 1

What are the three parts the ear is divided into?

Answer 1

External, middle and inner ear

Question 2

What structures make up the external ear?

Answer 2

• Ear pinna/auricle
• The external auditory canal

Question 3

What is the function of the external auditory canal?

Answer 3

To provide a passageway for sound waves to enter the ear

Question 4

What structures make up the middle ear?

Answer 4

• Tympanic membrane
• The ossicles
• The oval window
• Eustachian tube

Question 5

What is the function of the tympanic membrane?

Answer 5

• Separates the external ear from the middle ear
• Vibrates in response to sound waves entering the ear, the vibration is passed onto the ossicles

Question 6

What are the names of the three ossicles?

Answer 6

• malleus
• incus
• stapes

Question 7

What is the function of the ossicles?

Answer 7

When the tympanic membrane vibrates, it transmits this vibration to the ossicles, these vibrations then vibrate against the oval window

Question 8

What is the function of the oval window?

Answer 8

To seperate the middle and inner ear

Question 9

What is the function of the eustachian tube?

Answer 9

To equalise the pressure in the ear (on both sides of the tympanic membrane) by permitting air to pass from the pharynx to the middle ear.

Question 10

What structures make up the inner ear?

Answer 10

• The vestibule
• The semicircular canals
• The cochlea

Question 11

What is the function of the vestibule?

Question 12

What is the function of the semicircular canals?

Question 13

What is the function of the cochlea?

Answer 13

When the vibrations reach the cochlea, the hairs bend, sending a nerve impulse from the cochlea branch of the vestibulocochlear nerve to the primary auditory cortex of the temporal lobe