Hearing and Balance

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the physiology of hearing and balance as outlined in the lecture notes.

Hearing

The ability to perceive sounds through the auditory system, crucial for survival and communication.

Auditory system

The sensory system responsible for detecting changes in air pressure and sound waves.

Intensity

Measured in decibels (dB), perceived as loudness.

Frequency

Measured in hertz (Hz), perceived as pitch.

Cochlea

A fluid-filled structure in the inner ear that transduces physical sound energy into action potentials.

Pinnae

The external part of the ear that helps filter and funnel sounds into the ear canal.

Tympanic membrane

Also known as the eardrum, it vibrates in response to sound waves.

Ossicles

The three tiny bones in the middle ear (malleus, incus, stapes) that transmit sound vibrations.

Basilar membrane

A structure in the cochlea that vibrates at specific frequencies, aiding in sound transduction.

Organ of Corti

The part of the cochlea that contains hair cells for sound transduction.

Hair cells

Sensory cells in the cochlea that convert sound vibrations into electrical signals.

Action potentials

Electrical impulses generated by the nervous system in response to stimuli.

Conduction deafness

A type of hearing loss caused by problems in the outer or middle ear preventing sound transmission.

Sensorineural deafness

Hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve.

Central deafness

Hearing loss resulting from damage to the auditory pathways in the brain.

Vestibular apparatus

The system in the inner ear that helps maintain balance by detecting head position.

Semicircular canals

Fluid-filled structures in the inner ear essential for sensing rotational movements and balance.

Disruption of hearing

Can occur at various points in the auditory system, leading to different types of deafness.

Fluid-filled structures

Components like the cochlea and semicircular canals that play vital roles in hearing and balance.

Mechanical process

The way the auditory system transduces air vibrations into nerve impulses.

Air pressure

The force exerted by the weight of air molecules, which is critical in the propagation of sound.

Auditory cortex

The brain region responsible for processing auditory information, located in the temporal lobe.

Adaptation in balance

The ability of the brain to adjust and compensate for balance issues, as demonstrated in a case study.

Neurotransmitter release

The process by which hair cells communicate with auditory neurons by releasing chemicals.

K+ and Ca2+ channels

Ionic channels in hair cells that are critical for generating action potentials.

Vestibulocochlear nerve

The nerve that carries auditory information from the inner ear to the brain.

Plasticity

The capability of the brain and vestibular system to adapt to changes and new information.

Sound measurement

The quantification of sound energy through frequency and intensity.

Types of deafness

Various forms of hearing loss, including conduction, sensorineural, and central deafness.

Vibration

The mechanical oscillation of air molecules that produces sound.

Amplitude

The height of sound waves that corresponds to loudness.

Wavelength

The distance between successive peaks of a sound wave, related to its frequency.

Head position detection

How the vestibular apparatus senses the orientation and motion of the head.

Q-tip use in ear

Refers to the common practice of cleaning the ear canal, which is actually not recommended.

Sound focusing

The process by which the external ear collects and directs sound waves.

Action potential generation

The conversion of sound wave energy into electrical signals by hair cells in the cochlea.

Cheryl's case

An example of a woman who adapted her balance system after damage to her auditory structures.

Electrode tongue device

A device used in a case study to help retrain the balance system through stimulation.

Gentamycin

An antibiotic known to cause hair cell damage, affecting hearing and balance.

Survival and communication

The vital roles that hearing plays in human and animal life.

Head movement detection

The ability of semicircular canals to sense changes in head orientation.

Sound transduction

The conversion of sound waves into electrical signals by specialized cells.

Physical vibrations

The mechanical oscillations that move the tympanic membrane and ossicles in the ear.

Neuroscience of hearing

The study of how sound is processed by the auditory system and brain.

Sound frequencies

The specific pitch levels of sounds that can be perceived by the human ear.

Balance system plasticity

The brain's capability to adapt to new balance information after sensory disruption.

Loudness perception

How the brain interprets the intensity of sound vibrations.

Hearing range

The range of frequencies that humans can typically hear, from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

Outer ear structures

Components such as the pinnae and ear canal that help in the initial processing of sound.