Ear

Question 1

Hearing (Audition)

Answer 1

Detecting sound waves and converting them to nerve impulses

Question 2

Equilibrium (Balance)

Answer 2

Detect position of our head and make positional adjustments as necessary

Question 3

Auricle (Pinna)

Answer 3

Outer mass of tissue

Question 4

Auricle Function

Answer 4

Collects sound waves and directs them into the auditory canal

Question 5

External Acoustic Meatus Location

Answer 5

Between auricle and tympanic membrane

Question 6

External Acoustic Meatus Function

Answer 6

Directs sound waves to tympanic membrane

Question 7

Tympanic Membrane Function

Answer 7

Moves/Vibrates auditory ossicles when sounds vibrate the Tympanic Membrane

Question 8

Lateral (External) Boundary is the..

Answer 8

Tympanic Membrane

Question 9

Medial (Internal) boundary is..

Answer 9

Oval window and Round Window of Inner ear

Question 10

Auditory Ossicles

Answer 10

Malleus
Incus
Stapes

Question 11

Malleus

Answer 11

Looks like a hammer

Question 12

Incus

Answer 12

Looks like an anvil

Question 13

Stapes

Answer 13

Looks like a stirrup

Connects with oval window of the inner ear

Question 14

Oval Window

Answer 14

This is where sound waves are transmitted to the inner ear

Question 15

Auditory (Eustachian) Tube

Answer 15

Connects middle ear with the nasopharynx

Question 16

Auditory (Eustachian) Tube Function

Answer 16

Equalize air pressure in the middle ear

Question 17

When an airplane descends to a lower altitude, you may feel greater pressure in your ears, followed by a ‘popping’ sensation, before more normal pressure resumes.

Answer 17

Nasopharynx is open, causing eustachion tubes to move and air to move around

Question 18

Otitis Media (Middle ear Infection)

Answer 18

Infection from the throat that moves to the middle ear via the auditory tube. The middle ear fills with fluid/pus

Question 19

External Ear

Answer 19

Auricle
External Acoustic Meatus
Tympanic Membrane

Question 20

Middle Ear

Answer 20

Malleus
Incus
Stapes
Auditory Tube

Question 21

Inner Ear

Answer 21

Vestibule
Semicircular Canals
Cochlea
Utricle
Saccule
Semicircular Ducts
Cochlear Ducts

Question 22

Bony Labyrinth

Answer 22

Spaces/Cavities inside temporal bone

Question 23

Membranous Labyrinth

Answer 23

Membranous sacs/tubes that rest inside the bony labyrinth

Question 24

Perilymph Definition

Answer 24

Fluid that is between bony and membranous labyrinth

Question 25

Perilymph Location

Answer 25

This fluid is inside the bony part and outside the membranous part. Membranous labyrinth floats in the perilymph. This fluid is chemically similar to CSF

Question 26

Endolymph

Answer 26

Fluid inside the membranous labyrinth

Question 27

Endolymph Information

Answer 27

This fluid similar to intracellular fluid. Helps conduct sound vibrations, and indirectly helps with detecting changes in position/balance

Question 28

Bony Labyrinth Components

Answer 28

Vestibule Semicircular Canals Cochlea

Question 29

Vestibule

Answer 29

Oval central portion

Question 30

Semicircular Canals

Answer 30

Three circular spaces/canals

Question 31

Cochlea

Answer 31

Spiral Chamber

Question 32

Membranous Labyrinth Components

Answer 32

Utricle Saccule Semicircular Ducts Cochlear Ducts

Question 33

Utricle

Answer 33

Sac inside vestibule

Question 34

Saccule

Answer 34

Another sac inside vestibule

Question 35

Semicircular Ducts

Answer 35

Three membranous tubes in semicircular canals

Question 36

Cochlear Duct (Scala Media)

Answer 36

Membranous tube inside the cochlea

Question 37

Who is responsible for interpreting equilibrium?

Answer 37

Utricle, Saccule, and Semicircular Ducts

Question 38

Equilibrium information transmitted via

Answer 38

Vestibular notch of the Vestibular Nerve

Question 39

Cochlear Duct

Answer 39

Splits the cochlea into two chambers

Question 40

Two chambers in Cochlea

Answer 40

Scala Vestibuli Scala Tympani *Both are continuous at the apex

Question 41

Scala Vestibuli (1)

Answer 41

Above Cochlear Duct Connects to Oval Window Filled with Perilymph

Question 42

Scala Vestibuli (2)

Answer 42

The Vestibular Membrane is a thin membrane that separates the scala vestibuli from the cochlear duct

Question 43

Scala Tympani

Answer 43

Below Cochlear Duct Connects to Round Window Filled with Perilymph

Question 44

Scala Tympani (2)

Answer 44

The basilar membrane separates the scala tympani from the cochlear duct

Question 45

Spiral Organ Location

Answer 45

Cochlear duct contains to this structure

Question 46

Spiral Organ

Answer 46

Spiral Organ rests on basilar membrane | Spiral Organ contains Hair Cells which have stereocilia

Question 47

Sound waves in Scala Vestibuli

Answer 47

When sound waves enter the scala vestibuli, they vibrate a small substance of the basilar membrane

Question 48

What responds to the highest frequencies?

Answer 48

The basilar membrane closest to the oval window responds to the highest frequencies

Question 49

What responds to the lowest frequencies?

Answer 49

The basilar membrane furthest away from the oval window responds to lower frequencies

Question 50

When the basilar membrane moves, the stereocilia of the hair cells touch the tectorial membrane

Answer 50

Bending of the stereocilia generates nerve impulses | Nerve impulses are sent to the brain via the cochlear branch of the Vestibulocochlear Nerve

Question 51

Remaining sound waves..

Answer 51

are transferred to the scala tympani and exit the inner ear via the round window

Question 52

Brief Review of Hearing (1)

Answer 52

Sound waves are collected by the auricle, travel in external acoustic meatus, sent to tympanic membrane

Question 53

Brief Review of Hearing (2)

Answer 53

Vibration of tympanic membrane causes vibration of auditory ossicles, which in turn vibrates the oval window

Question 54

Brief Review of Hearing (3)

Answer 54

Sound waves travel through the scala vestibuli, and vibrates a portion of the vestibular membrane (which is attached to the spinal cord)

Question 55

Brief Review of Hearing (4)

Answer 55

Stereocilia of the hair cells bend against the basilar membrane

Question 56

Brief Review of Hearing (5)

Answer 56

Nerve impulses sent to the brain via the Vestibulocochleear Nerve

Question 57

Brief Review of Hearing (6)

Answer 57

Remaining sound waves are transferred to the Scala Tympani, and leave the inner ear through the round window