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NE Exam 1 > The Ear > Flashcards

The Ear Flashcards

(65 cards)

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1
Q

What structures make up the external ear?

A

Auricle and external acoustic meatus

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2
Q

What structures are within the inner ear?

A

Malleus, incus and stapes

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3
Q

What structures are within the inner ear?

A

Vestibule, cochlea

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4
Q

Where is the ear located?

A

Within the dense petrous portion of the temporal bone

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5
Q

What is the auricle of the external ear composed of?

A

Integument covered and elastic cartilage

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6
Q

What is the concha of the auricle?

A

Deep depression found in the auricle

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7
Q

What is the blood supply to the external ear?

A

Posterior auricular and superficial temporal

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8
Q

What part of the external ear does not have cartilage?

A

Lobule

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9
Q

What provides sensory innervation to the external ear?

A

Greater auricular nerve and auriculotemporal nerve

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10
Q

Describe the external acoustic meatus

A

Canal leading to the TM
Contains ceruminous glands (make wax) and sebaceous glands in the integument
Cartilage beneath supports the outer portion of the canal

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11
Q

Describe the tympanic membrane

A

Semi transparent membrane
Outside layer lined with stratified squamous epithelium
Inside layer lined with simple cuboidal epithelium
Moves with sound and transmits to ossicles

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12
Q

What is the innervation to the TM?

A

External surface by auriculotemporal N

Inner surface by small branch of V3 and by small auricular branch of vagus nerve

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13
Q

What is the shape of the TM?

A

Cone shaped with the tip (the umbo) oriented toward the external acoustic meatus

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14
Q

Perforated TM is often due to what?

A

Abnormal increase in medial ear pressure because of fluid or barotrauma
External trauma

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15
Q

How is perforated tympanic treated?

A

Most heal but may need follow up with Abx (avoid gentamicin bc it can damage hair cells)

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16
Q

What are the two parts of the middle ear (tympanic cavity)?

A

Tympanic cavity proper and epitympanic recess

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17
Q

What wall is the roof of the middle ear?

A

Tegmental wall

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18
Q

What wall is the floor of the middle ear?

A

Jugular wall

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19
Q

What forms the lateral wall of the middle ear?

A

Membranous wall

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20
Q

What forms the medial wall of the middle ear?

A

Labyrinthe wall

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21
Q

What forms the posterior wall of the middle ear?

A

Mastoid wall

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22
Q

What forms the anterior wall of the middle ear?

A

Carotid wall - near opening of pharyngotympanic tube and canal for tensor tympani

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23
Q

Describe the pharyngotympanic (Eustachian) tube

A

Connects TM with nasopharynx
Posterior lateral part is bone but remainder is cartilaginous (elastic)
Functions to equalize pressures

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24
Q

What opens the pharyngotympanic tube?

A

Levator veli palatine, tensor veli palatine and salpingopharyngeus muscles

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25
The auditory ossicles run from the TM to what?
The oval window of the cochlea
26
What does the malleus articulate with?
Incus | Also connected to the TM
27
Describe the incus
Has body and two processes Body lies in epitympanic space Articulates with head of malleus Short process is connected to posterior wall by ligament
28
Describe the stapes
Has head, two limbs and base Head articulates with the incus Base attached to oval window and is very small so vibratory force from TM gets amplified almost 10x
29
What is the origin and insertion of the tensor tympani muscle?
Origin: surface of pharyngotympanic tube, greater sphenoid wing and petrous part of the temporal bone Insertion: handle of malleus
30
What innervates the tensor tympani muscle?
CN V
31
What is the action of tensor tympani muscle?
Pulls on handle of malleus to tense membrane and reduce amplitude
32
What is the origin and insertion of the stapedius muscle?
Origin: within pyramidal eminence (hollow cone shaped eminence on posterior wall of tympanic cavity) Insertion: tendon exits via small pinhole sized foramen and inserts onto stapes
33
What innervates the stapedius muscle?
CN VII
34
What is the action of the stapedius muscle?
Pulls stapes posteriorly tightening annular ligament attaching it to the widow Reduces oscillatory range and prevents excessive movement of stapes
35
What is otitis media?
Ear-ache with possible fluid or pus in the middle ear due to inflammation or infection TM appears red and bulged Fluid may be visible through membrane If left untreated can impair hearing and scarring of auditory ossicles
36
What is mastoiditis?
Infection of mastoid air cells Can spread into cranial fossa via petrosquamous cranial suture Treated with Abx
37
What is the bony labyrinth of the inner ear?
Interconnected cavities and canals within bone | Contains semicircular canals, vestibule (space containing saccule and utricle) and cochlea
38
What is the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear?
``` Lies within bony labyrinth and consists of small sacs and tubules forming continuous spaces enclosed by an epithelium Vestibular division (semicircular ducts, utricle and saccule) and cochlear division ```
39
Describe the sensory cells found within the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear
Found in 6 regions (3 cristae ampullaris, 2 maculae and one organ of corti) Hair cells and support cells Mechanosensory cells: convert mechanical energy into electrical energy transmitted via CN VIII to brain
40
Describe perilymph
Found within the perilymphatic space between bony and membranous labyrinths Composition similar to CSF Drains via perilymphatic duct (cochlear aqueduct) into subarachnoid space
41
Describe endolymph
Found within the endolymphatic space within the membranous labyrinth High in K and low in Na Originates from stria vascularis Drains via endolymphatic duct into venous sinuses of dura mater
42
Describe hair cells
Surface contains rows of stereocilia that increase in height along a particular direction Vestibular system contains one true cilia (kinocilium) located behind tallest stereocilia In the auditory system lose the cilia structure but retain its basal body
43
Describe stereocilia
Stiff and contain mechanoelectrically gated ion channels If deflected toward the tallest one, K channels opens Close if in opposite direction
44
Hair cells are innervated by what?
Both efferent (modulate sensitivity) and afferent nerves
45
Hair cells are a target of what?
Ototoxicity effects by Abx | Can destroy hair cells
46
What is the cochlear canal?
Spiral space within bone containing the cochlear duct
47
What is the cochlear duct?
Divides the cochlear canal into 3 parallel soft tissue lined compartments Scala media, scala tympani and scala vestibuli
48
What is the scala media?
Middle compartment of the cochlear duct Contains endolymph Stria vascularis: lateral wall of scala media and source of endolymph
49
What is the scala vestibuli?
Contains perilymph and fluid is moved by stapes at oval window Continuous with scala tympani
50
What is the scala tympani connected to?
The round window
51
What is the organ of corti?
On floor of scala media resting on basilar membrane Composed of hair cells, inner and outer phalangeal cells (support for hair cells), and pillar cells (support between basilar membrane and tympanic lip)
52
What is the osseous spiral lamina?
Inner spiraling bony shelf serving as support for tectorial membrane and spiral ganglia (contains bipolar neuron cell bodies)
53
Describe the structure of the organ of Corti
Three rows of outer hair cells and single row of inner hair cells Hair cell stereocilia are embedded in overlying tectorial membrane extending from the spiral lamina
54
The basilar membrane vibrates with sound causing what?
Deflection of stereocilia attached to tectorial membrane, opening K channels in hair cells
55
What is the path of sound waves?
Stapes moves oval window causing fluid pressure wave formation in perilymph Waves distorts vestibular membrane causing a pressure wave within endolymph of the scala media This displaces basilar membrane and distorts stereocilia of hair cells Pressure in perilymph is transferred to scala tympani and exits via round window
56
What is conductive hearing loss?
Effects outer or middle ear | Fluid build up in the middle ear, otitis, excessive wax, osteoscleosis
57
What is sensorineural hearing loss?
Reduction in sound level and/or fidelity due to damage to inner ear or auditory nerve Affects hearing at different frequencies and intensities Age related and noise induced
58
What is central hearing loss?
Problem in the CNS
59
Describe semicircular canals and ampulla
Three canals in three different axes Endolymph filled and connected to utricle End of canals have ampulla with gelatinous like cap called a cupulla Sensory hair cells with stereocilia are attached to the cupulla Cupulla is displaced by fluid motion within canal Serve as sensors of rotational velocity
60
The vestibule contains a saccule and utricle which each contain a macula comprised of what?
A cluster of hair cells with stereocilia with overlying gelatinous material called otolithic membrane Otolithic membrane covered with Ca carbonate/protein crystals called otoconia
61
What is the function of the macula of the utricle and saccule?
Serve as sensors for gravity and linear acceleration
62
What two diseases are associated with the membranous labyrinth?
Ménière’s syndrome and viral labyrinthitis
63
What is Ménière’s syndrome?
Experience dizziness, vertigo, high pitched rushing or roaring sound (tinnitus) and fluctuating hearing loss Associated with increase endolymph volume leading to abnormal signaling Cause is unclear Mild cases are treated with medication Severe cases require surgical ablation of parts of labyrinthine system but there are risks of permanent hearing loss
64
What is viral labyrinthitis?
Similar sx to Ménière’s syndrome | Usually resolves within a week
65
High frequency sounds are detected where?
Near the base of the cochlea while low frequency sounds are detected closer to the tip of the cochlear duct

NE Exam 1 (20 decks)

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