The Human Ear Flashcards
Demonstrate an understanding of the human hearing system and how sound is perceived.
What is sound level measured in?
Decibels (DB)
What is the max safest level the human ear can listen to before damage starts to occur?
85DB
What is the pinna?
The pinna is the only visible part of the ear (the auricle) with its special helical shape. It is the first part of the ear that reacts with sound. The function of the pinna is to act as a kind of funnel that assists in directing the sound further into the ear.
What is the auditory canal?
The auditory canal is the passageway that leads from the outside of the head to the tympanic membrane of each ear. The structure of the external auditory canal is also the same in all mammals.
What are ossicles?
The ossicles (also called auditory ossicles) are three bones in either ear that are among the smallest bones in the human body. They serve to transmit sounds from the air to the fluid-filled labyrinth (cochlea).
What is the cochlea?
The Cochlea is the spiral cavity of the inner ear containing the organ of Corti, which produces nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations.
What does the tympanic membrane do?
The tympanic membrane, also called eardrum, is the thin layer of tissue in the human ear that receives sound vibrations from the outer air and transmits them to the auditory ossicles.
What is the eustachian tube?
The eustachian tube is the narrow passage leading from the pharynx to the cavity of the middle ear, permitting the equalization of pressure on each side of the eardrum.
What happens to low frequencies when the volume is increased and decreased?
Low frequencies become more noticeable as DB’s are increased and tend to disappear as the volume is lowered. eg. bass & kickers are much more audible at higher volumes, but when turned down sounds like vocals and guitars are much more prevalent.
When is the human ear most sensitive?
Our hearing is most sensitive between 1 and 4 KHz.
