The Ear Flashcards
Two functions of the ear
Hearing and balance
Three ear ossicles
Malleus, incus, stapes
Pinna
-Outer ear
-Acts as a funnel to collect sound waves, concentrating them into the auditory canal
Auditory Canal
-Outer ear
-Covered in tiny hairs and sebaceous glands
-Passageway from the outside of the head to the tympanic membrane
Tympanic membrane
-Middle ear
-Receives vibrations from outer ear and transmits them to the auditory ossicles
Malleus
-Middle ear
-First auditory ossicle
-Attached to the surface of the tympanic membrane
Incus
-Middle ear
-Second auditory ossicle
-Collects vibrations from the malleus and passes them on to the stapes
Stapes
-Middle ear
-Third auditory ossicle
-Collects vibrations from the incus and transmits them to the oval window
Oval Window
-Middle ear
-Vibrations from the oval window transfer to the fluid filled inner ear
Round Window
-Middle ear
-Second opening of the inner ear, sealed with a second tympanic membrane
-Allows the fluid in the cochlea to move for hearing to take place
Cochlea*
-Inner ear
-Auditory part of the inner ear
*Fluid filled (endolymph)
Organ of Corti*
-Inner ear
-Sensory organ of hearing
-Vibrations cause displacement of the cochlea fluid and the movement of the hair cells cause electrochemical signals to be sent to the brain
*Fluid filled (endolymph)
Cochlea Nerve*
-Inner ear
-Transfers auditory information from the cochlea to the brain
*Fluid filled (endolymph)
Semi-Circular Canals*
-Inner ear
-Three different fluid filled canals at different angles which contain motion sensors
-Maintains balance during movement, balance and body orientation depend on these, also plays a role in keeping eyes orientated at a single point
*Fluid filled (endolymph)
