Hearing and Balance

sound is an audible _____ of molecules

vibration

Sound can be transmitted through ____, ____, and ____, but not ____.

Water, Solids, Air; But not a vacuum.

The _______ vibrates and moves the ossicles

tympanic membrane

Ossicles _____ sound and ___ fluid within inner ear

amplify; move

What are the 4 steps in hearing?

1. sound waves vibrate the tympanic membrane

2. Auditory ossicles vibrate, pressure is amplified

3. Pressure waves created by stapes pushing on the oval window move through fluid in the scala vestibuli

4a. Sound with frequencies below hearing level go through the helicotrema and do not excite hair cells

4b. Sound in the hearing range go through the cochlear duct, vibrating the basilar membrane and deflecting hairs on inner hair cells.

vestibules or maculae maintain a _____ and can sense ______.

static equilibrium; linear acceleration

Semicircular canals maintain _____ planes, and can sense _______.

X, Y, and Z planes; rotational acceleration.

Hair cells in the ear ____ with the fluid movement in inner ear, speed and direction of it is interpreted by the _____

bend; brain

Motion sickness is caused by _______ confusing integrative centers. Ears say the body is moving, Eyes say the body isn’t, etc.

conflicting sesnory input

Benign positional vertigo (“Otoconia“) is caused by the detatchment of the ____.

otolith