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Ear Flashcards

(74 cards)

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1
Q

What can the ear be divided into

A

External
Middle
Inner

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2
Q

What can the external ear be divided into

A

Both functionally and structurally

Auricle (pinna)
External acoustic meatus

Ends at the tympanic membrane

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3
Q

What is the auricle

A

Paired structure found on either side of the head

Function is to capture and direct sound waves towards external acoustic meatus

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4
Q

What type of structure is the auricle

A

Mostly cartilaginous

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5
Q

What is the only part of the auricle not supported by cartilage

A

Lobule

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6
Q

What does the cartilaginous part of the auricle form

A

Outer curvature - helix

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7
Q

What is the second innermost curvature running parallel with the helix

A

Antihelix

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8
Q

What does the antihelix divide into

A

Two crura

Inferoanterior crus

Superoposterior crus

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9
Q

What is the hollow depression in the middle of the auricle

A

Concha

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10
Q

What does the concha continue into

A

Into the skull as the external acoustic meatus

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11
Q

What shape is the external acoustic meatus

A

Sigmoid shape tube

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12
Q

Where does the external acoustic meatus run

A

Deep part of concha - tympanic membrane

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13
Q

What is the external 1/3 of the external acoustic meatus compromised of

A

Cartillage

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14
Q

What is the inner 2/3 of the external acoustic meatus compromised of

A

Temporal bone

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15
Q

What path does the external acoustic meatus take

A

S-shape

  1. superior anterior direction
  2. superior posteriorly
  3. inferior anterior
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16
Q

Describe the tympanic membrane

A

Lies at distal end of the external acoustic meatus

Connective tissue structure
- skin on outside
- mucous membrane on inside

Membrane connected to the surrounding temporal bone by a fibrocartilaginous ring

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17
Q

What is the vasculature of the external ear

A

Branches of the external carotid artery

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18
Q

What innervates the skin of auricle

A

Greater auricular nerve (branch of the cervical plexus)

Lesser occipital nerve (branch of the cervical plexus)

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19
Q

What innervates the skin of the auricle and external auditory meatus

A

Auriculotemporal nerve (branch of the mandibular nerve)

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20
Q

What innervates the deeper aspect of the auricle and external auditory meatus

A

Branches of the facial and vagus nerves

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21
Q

Where does the middle ear lie

A

Within the temporal bone

Extends from the tympanic membrane to the lateral wall of the inner ear

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22
Q

What are the main functions of the middle ear

A

Transmit vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear via the auditory ossicles

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23
Q

What can the middle ear be divided into

A

Tympanic cavity

Epitympanic recess

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24
Q

Describe the tympanic cavity

A

Located medially to tympanic membrane

Contains auditory ossicles
- malleus
- incus
- stapes

Transmit vibrations through to the middle ear

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25
What are the bones of the auditory ossicles
Malleus Incus Stapes
26
What is the role of the auditory ossicle s
Sound vibrations cause a movement in the tympanic membrane which then creates movement (ossification) in the auditory ossicles Link tympanic membrane to the oval window of the internal ear
27
What is the largest and most lateral of the ear bones
Malleus
28
Describe incus
Consists of body and two limbs
29
What is the smallest bone in the human body
Stapes - joins the incus to the oval window
30
What is the role of mastoid air cells
Act as buffer system of air Release air into the tympanic cavity when the pressure is too low
31
What are the two muscles of the middle ear
Tensor tympani Stapedius
32
What is the role of the tensor tympani and stapedius
Protective function Contract in response to loud noise - inhibit vibrations to the malleus, incus and stapes = reduce sound to the inner ear Known as - acoustic reflex
33
Describe tensor tympani
Originates from the auditory tube Attaches to handle of malleus - pulling it medially when contracting Innervated by tensor tympani nerve - branch of the mandibular nerve
34
Describe the stapedius muscle
Attaches to the stapes Innervated by facial nerve
35
Describe the eustachian tube
Cartilaginous and bony tube Connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx Acts to equalise the pressure of the middle ear to that of the external auditory meatus
36
What are the two main functions of the inner ear
Convert mechanical signals from the middle ear into electrical signals - which can transfer information to the auditory pathways in the brain Maintain balance by detecting position and motion
37
Where is the inner ear located
Within petrous part of temporal bone Lies between middle ear and internal acoustic meatus
38
What are the two components of the inner ear
Bony labyrinth Membranous labyrinth
39
Describe the bony labyrinth
Composed of cochlea, vestibule and three semi-circular canals Structures lined internally with periosteum and contain perilymph (a fluid)
40
Describe membranous labyrinth
Lies within the body labyrinth Consists of cochlear duct, semi-circular ducts, utricle and saccule Fille with endolymph (fluid)
41
Describe oval window
Lies between the middle ear and vestibule
42
Describe the round window
Separates the middle ear from the scala tympani (part of the cochlear duct)
43
Describe vestibule
Central part of the bony labyrinth Separated from middle ear by oval window Communicates anteriorly with cochlea Posteriorly with semi-circular canals Saccule and utricle - located within
44
Describe the cochlea
Auditory part of the inner ear Twists upon itself around a central portion of the bone = modiolus Cone shape which points in anterolateral direction
45
Where are branches of the cochlear portion of the vestibulocochlear nerve found
Base of the modiolus
46
Describe semi-circular canals
Three - anterior - lateral - posterior Contain semi-circular ducts = responsible for balance (along with utricle and saccule) Right angles to each other Swelling at one end = ampulla
47
What is the range of human hearing
20Hz-20kHz
48
Is the outer ear air or fluid
Air
49
Is the middle ear air or fluid
Air
50
Is the inner ear air or fluid
Fluid
51
When does the pinna form
Between 10th - 18th week in utero
52
What is the size of the tympanic membrane
8x10mm diameter 14mg 84mm2 - 55mm2
53
How much energy is lost from transferring air to fluid
99.9%
54
What is the role of the middle ear
Amplification of the airborne vibration e.g. make it louder
55
What type of control is the tensor tympani
Voluntary and involuntary control
56
What is the role of the eustachian tube
Ventilation to middle ear space Drainage of secretions
57
What is the vestibulocochlear apparatus
Set of fluid filled sacs, encased in bone
58
What is the cochlear responsible for
Hearing
59
What is the labyrinth responsible for
Balance
60
What is the innervation of the vestibulocochlear apparatus
Vestibulocochlear nerve
61
Describe the cochlea
2.5 turns fluid filled bony tube 2 openings - round and oval window 3 compartments - scala tympani, scala media and scala vestibuli 2 ionic fluids
62
Cochlear fluids What ions are in Endolymph
High K+
63
Cochlear fluids What ions are in Perilymph
Like ECF and CSF Na+ rich
64
What are the cochlear fluids gradients maintained by
Na, K-ATPase NKCC1 CIC-K chlorine channels
65
What would ion channel abnormalities in the cochlear result in
Deafness
66
Where are frequencies detected in the cochlear - basilar membrane
High frequencies - at base (narrow) Low frequencies - at apex (wide)
67
What is the role of inner hair cells in the basilar membrane
Mechanical transduction
68
What is the role of outer hair cells in the basilar membrane
Fine tuning Can alter stiffness of the basilar membrane to ensure maximal stimulation at one site and dampened at another = increased resolution
69
What does displacement of the basilar membrane cause
Movement of the specialised mechanical transducing cells
70
How is frequency (pitch) encoded
In nerves by location along the basilar membrane
71
How is intensity (loudness) encoded
In nerves by numbers responding and firing rate
72
How is sound transduction encoded
Inner hair cells (and OHCs)
73
How is amplification encoded
Outer hair cells
74
What is the central auditory pathway
8th nerve Cochlear nucleus Olive Lateral lemniscus Inferior colliculus

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