Hearing

Question 1

Sound needs to…

Answer 1

move through something such as air or water

Question 2

frequency

Answer 2

cycles(vibrations) completed by a sound wave in one second, determines the pitch we hear, long wave= low frequency and low pitch, short wave= high frequency and high pitch

Question 3

pitch

Answer 3

a tone’s experienced highness of lowness (grave ou aigu)- depends on frequency

Question 4

amplitude

Answer 4

determines loudness of sound (volume), measures the pressure level of sound

Question 5

timbre

Answer 5

distinct quality of sound that distinguish it from others with the same pitch and loudness (ex: piano vs violin)

Question 6

Outer ear

Answer 6

pinna (cups the sound wave), auditory canal (moves the sound down), eardrum (where the hearing process begins-vibrates when sound hits)

Question 7

Middle ear

Answer 7

ossicles (3 smallest bones in body): link eardrum to oval window which amplifies sound

Question 8

Inner ear

Answer 8

cochlea(snail shape, fluid-filled bony chamber): -vibrations of sound hitting oval window move fluid in cochlea back and forth
-this activates the basilar membrane that is lined with HAIR CELLS
-hair cells are pushed/pulled by moving fluid which triggers an electrical impulse in the auditory nerve that carries it to the brain, making you hear.

Question 9

Where in the ear does transduction happen?

Answer 9

In the cochlea(sensory receptor), because of hair cells.

Question 10

Conductive hearing loss

Answer 10

sound waves cannot reach the cochlea, because of damage to the eardrum and to the middle ear (can be corrected by surgery or hearing aids)

Question 11

Sensorineural(aging) hearing loss

Answer 11

damage to the cochlea’s hair cells or to the auditory nerve and lifetime of excessive noise causes nerve deafness (can be corrected only for cochlea with cochlear implant)