The Auditory Pathway Flashcards
What is the frequency that a human can percieve?
20Hz - 20,000Hz
What part of the ear is the ‘reciever”?
External Ear
What part of the ear is the ‘amplifier’?
Middle ear
What part of the ear is the ‘transducer’?
Inner ear
What is the functional unit of the organ of corti?
Hair cells - act as a transduction mechanism to recieve sound and pass it to the auditory nerve.
How do the hair cells convert physical movement to electrical impulses?
The swaying of the hair cells causes the opening of ion channels at their base.
This causes a depolarisation.
This triggers the release of electrical impulses throught the auditory nerve.
Describe the outer hair cells?
They are the receptors which modulate the hair cells
What is meant by the tonotopic organisation of the cochlear?
The hair cells are arranged in a tonotopic manner -
hair cells at the base percieve high frequency sounds
hair cells at the apex percieve low frequency sounds
What are the two openings of the cochlea to the middle ear?
Oval and round window
What is the function of the oval window?
Located at the base of the scala vestibuli and undergoes pressure from the stapes
What is the function of the round window?
Seals the base of the tympanic membrane and is used to relieve pressure
What is the overall function of the openings?
To permit the transmission of a pressure wave in an enclosed canal and vibration of the basilar membrane
What nerve conveys sensory hearing to the brain?
Vestibulocochlear nerve
Where does the vestibulocochlear nerve enter the cranium?
Internal acoustic meatus
What is the function of the primary auditory cortex?
To allow for conscious perception of sounds; unconscious perception may occur in parallel
