Visual & Auditory Systems

Question 1

What is the spectrum of visible light

Answer 1

400-700 nm

Question 2

High acuity vision is possible due to the __________, a tiny part of the retina

Answer 2

Fovea

Question 3

Photoreceptors (Rods) can detect ______ photon of light

Answer 3

one

Question 4

Light sensitive receptor protein contained within the outer segment of a rod photoreceptor

Answer 4

Rhodopsin

Question 5

Activated rhodopsin, once it binds a photon of light, initiates a cascade of biochemical reactions that is a (fast/slow) process; why it takes time to adapt to darkness

Answer 5

Slow

Question 6

Type of photoreceptor; “moonlight/night vision” receptors; only in peripheral retina, mediate LOW acuity vision; responds to a SINGLE photon

Answer 6

Rods

Question 7

Type of photoreceptor; “daylight” receptors; mainly in fovea; mediate HIGH acuity vision; provides color vision (3 types); requires MANY photons

Answer 7

Cones

Question 8

The Optic Disc at the back of the eye is (dark/light) in appearance

Answer 8

Light (also can see lots of arteries radiating from it)

Question 9

The Fovea at the back of the eye is (dark/light) in appearance

Answer 9

Dark

Question 10

Swollen appearance of the Optic Disc seen on fundoscopic exam; usually due to increased ICP because of a mass (like a brain tumor); visual acuity is NOT affected, although blind spot may be enlarged

Answer 10

Papilledema

Question 11

Papilledema will result in a decreased visual acuity (True or False)

Answer 11

False; visual acuity is NOT affected, but blind spot may be enlarged

Question 12

The (left/right) visual field maps to the right hemisphere

Answer 12

Left

Question 13

The (left/right) visual field maps to the left hemisphere

Answer 13

Right

Question 14

The Visual pathways will synapse in what portion of the Thalamus

Answer 14

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Question 15

The medial side of the left retina will eventually have it’s signal sent to the (left/right) hemisphere

Answer 15

Right hemisphere (crosses at Optic Chiasm)

Question 16

The lateral side of the left retina will eventually have it’s signal sent to the (left/right) hemisphere

Answer 16

left hemisphere (doesn’t cross at Optic Chiasm)

Question 17

Upper occipital gyrus that receives signals from your LOWER visual field

Answer 17

Cuneus

*flips on it’s way to the Occipital lobe

Question 18

Lower occipital gyrus that receives signals from your UPPER visual field

Answer 18

Lingula

*flips on it’s way to the Occipital lobe

Question 19

Number of cycles per second

Answer 19

Frequency/pitch

Question 20

In regards to frequency, the higher the frequency means (shorter/longer) wavelengths

Answer 20

Shorter wavelengths

Question 21

Range of frequencies that a human can hear

Answer 21

20-20,000 Hz

Question 22

Function of the Outer Ear

Answer 22

Collection of sound waves to the tympanic membrane

*aided by the shape of the pinna

Question 23

Function of the Middle Ear

Answer 23

Transfer and AMPLIFY the vibratory movements of the tympanic membrane via 3 ossicles arranged in series

Question 24

Function of the Inner Ear

Answer 24

Contains the Cochlea to tranduce sound energy to neural energy

Question 25

The Eustachian tube is continuous with which portion of the ear

Answer 25

Middle Ear

Question 26

Pattern of the Middle Ear Bones (ossicles)

Answer 26

Malleus ("hammer")--> Incus--> Stapes ("stirrup")

Question 27

The Middle Ear Bones transmit physical energy to the (oval/round) window of the Cochlea

Answer 27

Oval window

Question 28

Specialized polarized epithelial cells modified as hearing receptors in Cochlea; has hair-like bundles composed of stereocilia; part of the Organ of Corti

Answer 28

Hair cells

Question 29

Mechanism lying on the basilar membrane of the Cochlea membranes; contains hair cells and a tectorial membrane essential for sound detection and transduction into neural signals

Answer 29

Organ of Corti

Question 30

Which middle ear ossicle presses against the Oval window

Answer 30

Stapes

Question 31

Stereocilia (part of Hair Cells) are bathed in ________________ which is high in Potassium (K+)

Answer 31

Endolymph

Question 32

When sterocilia bend (toward/away from) the Kinocilium, what two ions enter the cell

Answer 32

Toward; K+ and Ca++

Question 33

The narrow end of the Cochlea membrane vibrates in response to (high/low) frequency

Answer 33

High *near the oval window at the beginning

Question 34

The wide end of the Cochlea vibrates in response to (high/low) frequency

Answer 34

Low *furthest away from oval window

Question 35

From the ear, CN 8 axons synapse in the medulla at the

Answer 35

cochlear nuclei

Question 36

Auditory pathway becomes bilateral after what point?

Answer 36

Synapse in cochlear nuclei in the medulla

Question 37

Auditory information from the Cochlea synapses at what nucleus in the Thalamus

Answer 37

Medial Geniculate Nucleus (MGN)

Question 38

The Primary Auditory Cortex is on what part of the Temporal lobe

Answer 38

Medial face of Lateral fissure

Question 39

How is the primary auditory cortex organized in the temporal lobe?

Answer 39

tonotopically organized * Basilar membrane of cochlear is tonotopically organized as well.

Question 40

What frequency goes first in acquire deafness?

Answer 40

high frequency (like in unvoiced consonants = f, p, s, t)

Question 41

What medications can cause acquired deafness?

Answer 41

aminoglycoside antibiotics (-mycin) * gentamycin, streptomycin, neomycin

Question 42

What is aging-related progressive sensorineural hearing loss?

Answer 42

presbycusis

Question 43

In presbycusis, what frequency is affected first and why?

Answer 43

high-frequency (consonants); the functioning of the hair cells in the BASE of basilar membrane is lost first.