unit 5: The Auditory System Flashcards
sound wave
-the waves of pressure changes that occur in the air as a function of the vibration of a source
pure tones
-a sound wave in which changes in air pressure follow a sine wave pattern
-heard at a particular pitch
amplitude
-the difference between maximum and minimum sound pressures
-measured in decibels
loudness
-the perceptual experience of the amplitude of intensity of a sound stimulus
frequency
-in hertz
-the number of cycles that occur in a second
-frequency and wavelengths are inverses
pitch
-associated with the frequency of a sound stimulus
-related to the experience of whether the sound is high or low
range
-children and young adults = 20-20K Hz
-40 yrs= less than 14k Hz
pinna
-The structure that collects sound and funnels into the auditory canal
-helps in sound localization
External Auditory Canal/ meatus
-the channel that conducts sound from the pinna to the tympanic membrane
-protects the ear drum
Tympanic membrane/ eardrum
-a thin elastic sheet that vibrates in response to sounds coming through the external auditory canal
-seals the end of the outer ear
ossicles
-3 small bones in the middle ear
-conduct the sound mechanically
-amplify sound waves
The Eustachian tube
- a thin tube that connects the middle ear with the pharynx and serves to equalize air pressure on either side of the eardrum
-opens when we sallow or yawn
-responsible for popping ears
cochlea
-a snail-shaped structure of the inner ear that houses the hair cell that transduce sound into a neural signal
3 liquid filled chambers
-tympanic canal:
separated by the basilar membrane
-middle canal:
contains the organ of corgi
-vestibular canal:
separated by Reissner’s membrane
