Week 3 - Hearing

Question 1

Tympanic Membrane: What, where and function

Answer 1

What: Semitransparent membrane that separates auditory canal from middle ear

Where: Inside auditory canal

Function: Receives vibrations that travel to bones of middle ear to facilitate hearing

Question 2

List the auditory ossicles

Answer 2

Malleus, incus and stapes

Question 3

Malleus - What, where and function

Answer 3

What: Hammer
Where: Attached to Tympanic membrane and Incus
Function: Transfers vibrations from eardrum to incus to facilitate hearing

Question 4

Incus - What, where and function

Answer 4

What: Anvil
Where: Attached to Malleus and Stapes
Function: Transfers vibrations from malleus to stapes to facilitate hearing

Question 4

Stapes - What, where and function

Answer 4

What: Mixer
Where: Attached to Incus and oval window of vestibule
Function: Pushes membrane of the oval window, building pressure waves in the cochlea

Question 5

Oval window - What, where and function

Answer 5

What: Part that the stapes attaches to
Where: Attaches to stapes and cochlea
Function: Membrane of oval window vibrates from stapes which builds pressure waves

Question 6

Eustachian tube - What, where and function

Answer 6

What: Channel linking middle ear cavity and naso pharynx
Where: “Behind” and inferior to the tympanic membrane
Function: Equalizes pressure between the atmosphere and middle ear

Question 7

Semicircular canal - What, where and function

Answer 7

What: Three semicircular canals
Where: Above and behind the vestibule
Function: Provides sensory input for equilibrium by detecting acceleration or deceleration

Question 8

What is the ampulla?

Answer 8

Expansion at each end of the semicircular canals

Question 9

Vestibule - What, where and function

Answer 9

What: Where the semicircular canals open into
Where: Between semicircular canal and cochlea
Function: Maintains balance and equilibrium

Question 10

Cochlea - What, where and function

Answer 10

What: Spiral, bony chamber that contains three membrane bound chambers
Where: Attaches to vestibule
Function: Receives fluid waves to generate nerve impulses to process sound

Question 11

Scala vestibuli - What, where and function

Answer 11

What: Top channel in cochlea
Where: In the cochlea
Function: Contains perilymph fluid which builds up pressure waves

Question 12

Cochlear duct - What, where and function

Answer 12

What: Contains tectorial membrane and Organ of Corti
Where: Middle channel in cochlea
Function: Fluid pressure waves bend hairs (stereocilia) which generates nerve impulses within cochlear nerves

Question 13

Scala Tympani - What, where and function

Answer 13

What: Bottom channel in cochlea
Where: In the cochlea
Function: Contains perilymph

Question 14

Tectorial Membrane - What, where and function

Answer 14

What: Membrane on stereocilia
Where: On top of Organ of Corti
Function: Covers the stereocilia

Question 15

Organ of Corti - What, where and function

Answer 15

What: Membrane in cochlear duct
Where: Below the Organ of Corti, extends to bony wall of cochlea
Function: Divides the cochlear duct from scala tympani

Question 16

Vestibulocochlear Nerve (CN VIII) - Where, which nerves do what?

Answer 16

-Where: Pass through the internal auditory meatus in temporal bone
-Cochlear nerves transmit signals for hearing
-Vestibular nerves transmit signals for equilibrium