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Gross Anatomy 2 > The Ear > Flashcards

The Ear Flashcards

1
Q

Name the 3 divisions of the ear

A
  1. External ear
  2. Middle ear
  3. Internal ear
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2
Q

In what bony space does the internal ear sit

A

Between the middle and posterior cranial fossae

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3
Q

What is the external ear called

A

Auricle

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4
Q

Name the 5 different sections of the auricle

A
  1. Helix
  2. Antihelix
  3. Tragus
  4. Antitragus
  5. Pinna (earlobe)
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5
Q

What is the auricle composed of

A

Elastic cartilage

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6
Q

Where does lymph from the auricle travel to

A

Parotid and cervical lymph nodes

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7
Q

What is the function of the auricle

A

To catch sound waves and funnel them towards the external auditory meatus

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8
Q

Name the main artery that supplies the auricle

A

External carotid artery; superficial temporal artery

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9
Q

Name the branches of the superficial temporal artery that supply the auricle

A

Anterior and posterior auricular arteries; and their perforating branches

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10
Q

Where does blood drain into from the auricle

A

The corresponding veins (of the arteries) and into both the internal and external jugular veins

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11
Q

Name the different nerves that supply the auricle with sensory innervation

A
  1. Auriculotemporal nerve (CNV3)
  2. CN IX
  3. CN X
  4. CN VII
  5. Lesser occipital and greater auricular nerves (cervical plexus)
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12
Q

Describe the structure of the lateral third of the external auditory meatus

A

Elastic cartilage, hair follicles, and sweat and sebaceous glands

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13
Q

Describe the structure of the medial two-thirds of the external auditory meatus

A

Bone lined with stratified squamous epithelium

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14
Q

Describe the arterial supply to the external auditory meatus

A

Branches of the external carotid (auricular)

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15
Q

Describe the innervation of the external auditory meatus

A
  1. Mainly auriculo-temporal from CNV3

2. Auricular branches from CN VII and CN X

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16
Q

Describe the surfaces of the tympanic membrane

A 
Outer = stratified squamous epithelium
Inner = covered by mucous membrane
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17
Q

Name the three ossicles

A
  1. Malleus
  2. Stapes
  3. Incus
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18
Q

Name the ossicle that attaches to the medial surface of the tympanic membrane

A

Malleus

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19
Q

Describe the innervation to the outer surface of the tympanic membrane

A
  1. Auriculotemporal nerve (CNV3)

2. Auricular branch of vagus nerve (CN X)

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20
Q

Describe the innervation to the inner surface of the tympanic membrane

A

Tympanic branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

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21
Q

What space houses the ossicle bones

A

Tympanic cavity

22
Q

Name the joint that exists between the ossicle bones

A

Synovial plane joint

23
Q

What ossicle articulates with the oval window

24
Q

Describe the sensory nerve innervation to the tympanic cavity

A

From CN IX

25
Q

What arteries do the tympanic branches originate from

A
  1. Posterior auricular
  2. Ascending pharyngeal
  3. Maxillary
26
Q

Name the two muscles within the tympanic cavity; describe their combined function

A

Tensor tympani and stapedius; reduce vibration passing to the delicate inner ear

27
Q

Describe the attachments of tensor tympani

A

Wall of the auditory tube to the handle of the malleus

28
Q

What is the action of the tensor tympani muscle

A

Tenses the tympanic membrane

29
Q

What is the innervation of the tensor tympani

30
Q

Describe the attachments of the stapedius muscle

A

Pyramid of the middle ear to the neck of the stapes

31
Q

What is the action of the stapedius

A

Pulls the ‘footplate’ of the stapes laterally

32
Q

What is the innervation of the stapedius

33
Q

Describe the pathway of the facial nerve

A

Temporal bone through the internal auditory meatus; exits the temporal bone at the stylomastoid foramen; enters parotid gland and divides

34
Q

What does the chorda tympani cross, and what nerve does it join

A

Crosses the medial surface of the tympanic membrane, and joins the lingual nerve

35
Q

What does the auditory tube connect

A

Connects the nasopharynx with the tympanic cavity

36
Q

Describe the structure of the lateral and medial portions of the auditory tube

A 
Lateral = bony canal lined with mucosa
Medial = cartilaginous and membranous tube
37
Q

What is the function of the auditory tube

A

Equalises pressure on either side of the tympanic membrane

38
Q

Describe the sensory innervation to the auditory tube

A

Via the CN IX

39
Q

What arteries supply the middle ear

A
  1. Anterior tympanic (1st part of the maxillary artery)
  2. Ascending pharyngeal (inferior tympanic)
  3. Middle meningeal (superior tympanic)
  4. Posterior auricular (stylomastoid, posterior tympanic)
  5. Artery of pterygoid canal
  6. Carticotympanic branch of internal carotid
40
Q

What does the inner ear house

A

The delicate vibration-sensitive cells of hearing and balance

41
Q

Name the liquids that conduct sound vibrations and respond to mechanical forces

A
  1. Endolymph

2. Perilymph

42
Q

Describe the pathway of the wave produced by sound through the cochlea

A

Oval window; perilymph of the scala vestibuli; helicotrema (top of the cochlea); down the scala tympani; the round window

43
Q

What is the function of the cells within the organ of Corti

A

They detect movement and transform it into electrical energy (a nerve impulse), which is then passed to the cochlear nerve (CN VIII)

44
Q

Describe the shape of each of the semicircular canals

A

Two-thirds of a circle and 1.5mm in diameter

45
Q

Name the semicircular canals

A
  1. Anterior
  2. Posterior
  3. Lateral
46
Q

What do the semicircular canals contain; name the swelling at the end

A

The semicircular ducts; at the end of each duct is a swelling = ampullae

47
Q

What do the ampullae house; what do they respond to

A

Equilibrium receptor called crista ampullaris; responds to angular (rotational) movements of the head

48
Q

Name the two membranous sacs within the vestibule

A
  1. Utricle

2. Saccule

49
Q

What do the utricle and saccule house; what do they respond to

A

Equilibrium receptors called maculae; respond to the pull of gravity and changes in head position

50
Q

Name the minute pieces of bone that sit on the receptor cells of the utricle and saccule

51
Q

Where do the nerve impulses pass to from the equilibrium receptor cells in the semicircular canals

A

To the vestibular nerve (CNVIII)

52
Q

Describe the arterial supply of the inner ear

A

Main supply from internal auditory forming:

  1. Common cochlear
  2. Vestibular

Gross Anatomy 2 (28 decks)

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