Topic 6 Nervous System: Ear

Question 1

• Has three pain parts: outer, middle, and inner

- Functions to transduce sound energy into impulses

Answer 1

Note

Question 2

• Contains the auricle/pinna and auditory canal; directs sound into the external auditory canal -> middle ear

Answer 2

Outer Ear

Question 3

• Amplifies sound; the tympanic membrane (eardrum) begins in the middle ear and vibrates at the same frequency as the incoming sound -> three tiny bones, ossicles, (malleus, incus, and stapes) -> inner ear

Answer 3

Middle Ear

Question 4

• Waves move through the cochlea (vibration of ossicles exert pressure on the fluid)
• As the wave moves through alternating pressures, motion is creating along the basilar membrane. This movement is detected by hair cells (stereocilia cells) of the organ of Corti -> transduced neural signal -> action potential
• The inner ear also contains semicircular canals which are responsible for balance (fluid + hair cells sense orientation and motion_

Answer 4

Inner Ear

Question 5

• The other relevant sense are smell (olfaction) and taste (gustation). The papillae of the tongue contain the taste buds

Answer 5

Note