Structures of the Ears Flashcards
What are the sections of the ear?
the outer, middle, and inner ear
What is the outer ear also known as?
the pinna or the auricle
What is the purpose of the pinna?
to capture sound waves and transmit them into the external auditory canal
What is the eardrum also known as?
the tympanic membrane
What happens when sound waves hit the tympanic membrane?
the membrane vibrates and transmits the vibrations further in to the bones of the middle ear
What glands line the ear canal?
ceruminous glands
What combined with dead skin cells produces earwax?
cerumen that is secreted from the ceruminous glands in the ear canal
What does earwax do for the ear?
it coats the ear canal to moisturize it, helps fight off infection and keeps dust and dirt from entering the middle ear
What makes up the auditory ossicles? Where is it located?
it is located in the middle ear and consists of three bones, the malleus, the incus, and the stapes
What do the malleus, incus, and stapes do?
they transmit the sound waves from the eardrum to the inner ear by vibrating
What connects the ear to the nasopharynx?
the Eustachian tube
What membrane separates the middle ear from the inner ear?
the oval window
What is the Corti protected by within the inner ear?
the cochlea
What is the role of the cochlea?
it surrounds the Corti, and consists of tiny hair cells that translate the fluid vibration of sounds from the surrounding ducts into electrical impulses that are carried to the brain
What is endolymph?
a fluid within the inner ear that stimulates the receptors of the organs to help maintain balace and helps with hearing
