Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

aNeuro Exam 3- Lindsey's > The Auditory System > Flashcards

The Auditory System Flashcards

1
Q

What does the basilar membrane (BM) separate?

A

the scala media and scala tympani

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What ion’s movement underlies hair cell depolarization?

A

K+ influx

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are otoacoustic emissions (OAEs)?

A

sounds created by active OHCs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

The inner hair cells (IHCs) are attached to the _____.

A

basilar membrane (BM)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

This is a Na+-rich fluid that fills the scala vestibuli and bathes the basal end of the hair cells.

A

perilymph

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What do patients with auditory neuropathy use for sound localization?

A

interaural level difference (ILD)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

The basilar membrane (BM) vibrates best to low frequencies near ______.

A

the apex of the cochlea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

This is a K+-rich fluid that fills the scala media and bathes the apical ends of the hair cells.

A

endolymph

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

This is caused by the head forming an acoustic shadow between the 2 ears.

A

an interaural level difference (ILD)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

When does the hair cell hyperpolarize?

A

when the stereocilia bundle is pushed towards the direction of the shortest stereocilia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What comprises the external ear?

A

pinna –> external auditory meatus –> tympanic membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Human hearing spans frequencies of ____ to ____ Hz with a peak sensitivity around _____.

A

20-20,000; peak = 3000

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What comprises the middle ear?

A

the ossicles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the function of the medial olicocochlear neurons (MOCs)?

A

they’re feedback control to change the cochlear sensitivity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

The ____ of sound increases when the air is compressed more forcefully, resulting in increased density of air.

A

intensity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is presbycusis?

A

a loss of high frequency hearing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Where are the inner and outer hair cells found?

A

in the organ of Corti

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What causes vertical displacement of the basilar and tectorial membranes?

A

cochlear fluid waves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the function of the stria vascularis?

A

pump K+ into the endolymph –> create (+) potential inside the scala media (the endocochlear potential)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the cochlear amplifier?

A

the mechanical amplification of the displacement of the basilar membrane (BM) by the outer hair cells (OHCs)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

_____ lesions rostral to the cochlear nuclei produce bilateral deafness.

A

Unilateral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Movements of the basilar membrane (BM) are translated by _____ into electrical signals.

A

inner hair cells (IHCs)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Movements of the basilar membrane (BM) are translated by inner hair cells (IHCs) into ______.

A

electrical signals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Are there more type I or type II ANFs?

A

type I

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

From the inferior colliculus, fibers project mainly to the ____.

A

ipsilateral medial geniculate in the thalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

_____ are innervated by efferent neurons called medial olicocochlear neurons (MOCs).

A

Outer hair cells (OHCs)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What comprises the inner ear?

A
  • the cochlea
  • the semicircular canals
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Unilateral lesions in the inferior colliculus (IC) or more central cause ______ deafness.

A

bilateral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What are auditory nerve fibers (ANFs)?

A

the 8th CN (spiral ganglion) innervating the inner and outer hair cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What are the 2 primary qualities of sound?

A
  1. amplitude (intensity)
  2. frequency
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What do the cochlear fluid waves cause?

A

vertical displacement of the basilar and tectorial membranes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

The frequency is the number of times/sec that a sound wave ______ (or ______).

A

reaches the peak of rarefaction; compression

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Unilateral lesions rostral to the cochlear nuclei produce ____ deafness.

A

bilateral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What is perilymph?

A

a Na+-rich fluid that fills the scala vestibuli and bathes the basal end of the hair cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

The OHCs contribute up to ____ dB of the cochlea’s sensitivity to sound.

A

50

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What is the excitatory NT in the hair cell?

A

glutamate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What is sensorineural hearing loss? Examples?

A
  • damage to/loss of hair cells or nerve fibers
  • ex:
    • excessively loud sounds
    • ototoxic drugs
    • age (presbycusis)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Where is the Organ of Corti located?

A

in the scala media on top of the basilar membrane (BM)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

What might cause a collapse of the endocochlear potential? What is the functional result?

A

a mutation in the gap junction subunit, connexin 32 –> decreased active transport of K+ in the stria vascularis –> congenital sensorineural deafness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

This is the name for the mechanical amplification of the displacement of the basilar membrane (BM) by the outer hair cells (OHCs).

A

the cochlear amplifier

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

The dorsal acoustic stria and trapezoid body regroup to form the ______ and ascend to the _____ of the midbrain.

A

lateral lemniscus; inferior colliculus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

What is located in the scala media on top of the basilar membrane (BM)?

A

the organ of Corti

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

What are the 3 flexible elements of the cochlea?

A
  1. oval window
  2. basilar membrane (BM)
  3. round window
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

What is the perceptual correlate of intensity?

A

loudness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Some axons from cells in the cochlear nucleus cross the midline to the _____ and _____.

A

dorsal acoustic stria and trapezoid body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

This is a hole in the basilar membrane (BM) at the apex of the cochlea that connects the scala vestibuli to the scala tympani.

A

the helicotrema

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

What separates the scala vestibuli from the scala media?

A

Reissner’s membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

The ____ is an obligatory relay and integration center for ascending auditory information.

A

inferior colliculus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

The intensity of sound increases when _____, resulting in increased density of air.

A

the air is compressed more forcefully

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

Where are the nuclei of the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) and the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) found?

A

on the dorsal and lateral aspects of the inferior cerebellar peduncle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

During and oscillatory sound wave the basilar membrane (BM) will move up towards the scala vestibuli during rarefaction and down towards the _____ during _____.

A

scala tympani; compression

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

Where do the 2 bifurcations of the ANF cell bodies in the spiral ganglion relay to?

A
  • the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN)
  • the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

Movements of the ______ are translated by inner hair cells (IHCs) into electrical signals.

A

basilar membrane (BM)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

Why are otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) significant?

A

they’re the main method to test newborn hearing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

What innervates the inner and outer hair cells?

A

CN8 (spiral ganglion)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

Where do the axons of the auditory nerve fibers (CN8) go to?

A

the cochlear nucleus of the brainstem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

What separates the scala media and scala tympani?

A

the basilar membrane (BM)

58
Q

Name the 2 types of auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) and their differences.

A
  1. type I (innervate the IHCs, myelinated, 95% of total)
  2. type II (innervate the OHCs, not myelinated, 5% of total)
59
Q

During and oscillatory sound wave the basilar membrane (BM) will move up towards the _____ during ______ and down towards the scala tympani during compression.

A

scala vestibule; rarefaction

60
Q

What does damage to Wernike’s Area cause?

A

Wernike’s aphasia (impairment in language comprehension but not production)

61
Q

The basilar membrane (BM) vibrates best to ____ near the apex of the cochlea.

A

low frequencies

62
Q

Dx?

  • normal OAEs
  • normal tone thresholds
  • deficits in discriminating or understanding speech
A

auditory neuropathy

63
Q

What is endolymph?

A

a K+-rich fluid that fills the scala media and bathes the apical ends of the hair cells

64
Q

How can OHCs change their length?

A

the motor protein, prestin

65
Q

This is an epi on the side of the scala media that actively pumps K+ into the endolymph.

A

the stria vascularis

66
Q

This is different timing of the arrival of noises to each ear.

A

an interaural time delay (ITD)

67
Q

Where are interaural level differences (ILDs) processed?

A

in the lateral superior olive (LSO)

68
Q

What is an interaural level difference (ILD)?

A

the acoustic shadow btw the 2 ears bc of the head

69
Q

What is the endocochlear potential?

A

the +80mV potential inside the scala media

70
Q

Sound above ____ can result in permanent hearing loss.

71
Q

The frequency is ______ that a sound wave reaches the peak of rarefaction (or compression).

A

the number of times/sec

72
Q

What are sounds created by active OHCs called?

A

otoacoustic emissions (OAEs)

73
Q

The basilar membrane (BM) vibrates best to high frequencies near ______.

A

the base of the cochlea

74
Q

What is the helicotrema?

A

a hole in the basilar membrane (BM) at the apex of the cochlea that connects the scala vestibuli to the scala tympani

75
Q

How do OHCs respond to changes in voltage?

A

they change their length (electromotile)

76
Q

What is the hearing threshold?

A

the smallest dB that the subject can detect

77
Q

This isa thread-like connection btw adjacent stereocilia.

A

a tip link

78
Q

The _____ are attached to the basilar membrane (BM).

A

inner hair cells (IHCs)

79
Q

How does the middle ear alleviate the impedance mismatch btw the fluid and air?

A
  1. decreased area being pushed on by the sound waves (from tympanic membrane to stapes footplate)
  2. increased force (ossicles form a levering action)
80
Q

Why is the cochlear amplifier important?

A

sensorineural deafness can be caused by damage to the OHCs by blocking the transduction channel or by prolonged exposure to loud sounds

81
Q

OHCs are innervated by ____ neurons called medial olicocochlear neurons (MOCs).

82
Q

Unilateral lesions in the inferior colliculus (IC) or above results in deficits in sound source localization for sources _____ to the lesion.

A

contralateral

83
Q

Which hair cells are more sensitive to loud sounds?

A

outer hair cells (OHCs)

84
Q

Lesions _____ to and including the cranial nerve produce unilateral deafness.

85
Q

What is the stria vascularis?

A

an epi on the side of the scala media that actively pumps K+ into the endolymph

86
Q

How will a pt with auditory neuropathy present?

A

normal OAEs normal tone thresholds deficits in discriminating or understanding speech

87
Q

What happens when the hair cell is depolarized and the transducer channel opens?

A

voltage-dependent Ca++ channels open in the basolateral membrane –> NT released –> excitation of afferent axon

88
Q

What is the tonotopic arrangement/map of the basilar membrane (BM)?

A

a frequency-wise arrangement of vibrational properties of the BM; each inner hair cell (IHC) responds best to a certain frequency determined by the mechanical properties of the BM at that location

89
Q

What is the function of the pinna?

A

collect sound –> directional amplification –> filtering of sound

90
Q

What does the stapes contact?

A

the oval window

91
Q

Unilateral lesions _____ to the cochlear nuclei produce bilateral deafness.

92
Q

What is the function of the helicotrema?

A

to relieve pressure in the inner ear

93
Q

OHCs are innervated by efferent neurons called _____.

A

medial olicocochlear neurons (MOCs)

94
Q

Lesions caudal to and including the cranial nerve produce ______ deafness.

A

unilateral

95
Q

What is a type II ANF?

A

innervate the OHCs, not myelinated

96
Q

The _____ is the number of times/sec that a sound wave reaches the peak of rarefaction (or compression).

97
Q

When the stereocilia bundle is pushed towards the direction of the longest stereocilia, the membrane potential becomes _____.

A

more positive (depolarizes)

98
Q

What is the normal membrane potential of a hair cell?

99
Q

What are the 3 fluid-filled compartments in the cochlea?

A
  1. scala vestibuli
  2. scala media
  3. scala tympani
100
Q

What is the purpose of the outer hair cells (OHCs)?

A

to amplify the movements of the basilar membrane (BM)

101
Q

What are the 2 important response properties of the auditory nerve fibers (ANFs)?

A

encoding sound intensity (rate code) temporal coding of timing (phase locking)

102
Q

The perceptual correlate of frequency is _____.

103
Q

What is a tip link?

A

a thread-like connection btw adjacent stereocilia

104
Q

The hair cell potential follows, almost exactly, the ____.

A

movement of the basilar membrane (BM)

105
Q

When does the hair cell depolarize?

A

when the stereocilia bundle is pushed towards the direction of the longest stereocilia

106
Q

The basilar membrane (BM) vibrates best to ______ near the base of the cochlea.

A

high frequencies

107
Q

Auditory neuropathy results from problems with neural transmission from ____ to ____, or in the ANF function itself.

A

inner hair cell (INH) to auditory nerve fibers (ANFs)

108
Q

What is an interaural time delay (ITD)?

A

different timing of the arrival of noises to each ear

109
Q

What do hair cells do?

A

transduce sound into electrical signals

110
Q

At the basal end, the hair cell is contacted by ____, whose cell bodies are located in _____.

A

auditory nerve fibers (CN 8); spiral ganglion

111
Q

What is Reissner’s membrane?

A

the separation btw the scala vestibule and the scala media

112
Q

Where are interaural time delays (ITDs) processed?

A

in the medial superior olive (MSO)

113
Q

What is the function of the ossicles?

A

to translate airborne pressure waves into motion of the fluid of the inner ear

114
Q

How much hearing loss results from conductive hearing loss?

115
Q

How do audiologist quantify hearing loss?

A

measure the threshold in each ear = the smallest dB that the subject can detect

116
Q

What is conductive hearing loss? Examples?

A
  • degraded mechanical transmission
  • ex:
    • fluid from otitis media
    • otosclerosis
    • atresia
    • perforation/rupture of the tympanic memb
    • interruption of ossicle chain
    • static pressure
117
Q

Name 4 ototoxic drugs.

A
  1. diuretics
  2. aminoglycoside Abxs
  3. aspirin
  4. CA therapy
118
Q

When the stereocilia bundle is pushed towards the direction of the shortest stereocilia, the membrane potential becomes _____.

A

more negative (hyperpolarizes)

119
Q

These innervate the OHCs and are not myelinated.

A

type II ANFs

120
Q

Patients with auditory neuropathy cannot use ____ for sound localization because it relies on phase locking.

A

interaural time delays (ITDs)

121
Q

How many auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) are found in each ear?

122
Q

These innervate the IHCs and are myelinated.

A

type I ANFs

123
Q

Sound radiates from vibrating sources as a series of ____ of alternating ___ and _____ of air molecules.

A

pressure waves; compression; rarefaction

124
Q

Within each XC of the organ of Corti, there are ____ inner hair cells (IHCs) and _____ outer hair cells (OHCs).

A

1 inner; 3 outer

125
Q

What is found in the organ of Corti?

A

the inner and outer hair cells

126
Q

A 300-Hz sound results in an oscillating membrane potential of ____.

127
Q

What is a loss of high frequency hearing?

A

presbycusis

128
Q

An OHC changing its length causes the BM to be _____.

A

pulled towards or away from the tectorial membrane –> change the mechanical frequency selectivity of the BM

129
Q

What is a type I ANF?

A

innervate the IHCs, myelinated

130
Q

What is the function of the tip link?

A

they pull on the top of the stereocilia –> mechanical opening of the transduction channels –> depolarization of the hair cells OR pull –> close channels –> hyperpolarize

131
Q

The mechanical force of the stereocilia acts directly upon the ______.

A

transduction channel gating mechanism

132
Q

The medial geniculate sends projections to the ______.

A

primary auditory cortex (A1)

133
Q

How is conductive hearing loss distinguished from sensorineural hearing loss?

A

hold tuning fork in air vs against skull- in conductive, the sound will be heard when against the bone when it wasn’t heard in the air

134
Q

What does impedance mismatch mean?

A

water has high impedance (it’s more resistant to movement than air); air has low impedance

135
Q

What does a collapse of the endocochlear potential cause? Why?

A

sensorineural deafness bc of the loss in driving force for transduction

136
Q

How many hair cells are there per cochlea? How are they arranged?

A

16,000; 4 rows (1 row of IHCs and 3 rows of OHCs)

137
Q

During and oscillatory sound wave the _____ will move _____ towards the scala vestibule during rarefaction and _____ towards the scala tympani during compression.

A

basilar membrane (BM); up = rarefaction; down = compression

138
Q

How many type I ANFs innervate a single inner hair cell?

139
Q

The intensity of sound increases when the air is compressed more forcefully, resulting in ______.

A

increased density of air

140
Q

_____ results from problems with neural transmission from inner hair cell (INH) to auditory nerve fibers (ANFs), or in the ANF function itself.

A

Auditory neuropathy

141
Q

What kind of channel is the transduction channel found at the tips of the hair cells?

A

a non-specific cation channel that is voltage-INsensitive

142
Q

What is the most common cause of hearing loss?

aNeuro Exam 3- Lindsey's (20 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions