Pay 256/Ch 7. Sensory Systems

Exam 3

Sound

Produced by alternating compressed and ratified air waves that travel through a medium, creating vibrations that can be perceived by the auditory system.

Sound is just changes of _______ in molecules in patches of ___

density; air

Compressed air

A vibrating source pushes nearby air particles together

What type of pressure is compressed air

high

Ratified air

As the compressed air moves away, the particles spread apart

What type of pressure is ratified air?

Low

Pitch

How far apart or close together sound waves are packed; perception of frequency

Higher frequency = ______ _____

Higher pitch

Loudness

Related to amplitude of the sound wave

Amplitude

Size and strength of sound wave

Greater Amplitude = ______ ______

Louder sound

Smaller Amplitude = _____ ____

Quieter Sound

Timbre

The quality/character that makes sounds different, even at the same pitch/loudness

Outer ear

The external portion of the auditory system, consisting of the pinna and ear canal, that collects sound waves and directs them toward the eardrum.

Pinna

Collects sound waves and funnels them down to the auditory canal

Tympanic Membrane / Eardrum

A thin membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear; receives sound wave vibrations

Ossicles

Transmit vibration toward the inner ear; 3 little bones

Eustachian tube

A canal connecting the middle ear to the nasopharynx that equalizes air pressure and drains fluid

The Eustachian tube is involved with middle ear ____ and ___ infections

Fluid; ear

Inner ear

The sensory structure that converts mechanical vibrations from sound waves into electrochemical nerve impulses transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve.

Cochlea

Contains the structures for auditory transduction

Transduction

The process of converting energy or a message into another form

Auditory transduction in the cochlea converts sound vibrations to ____ signals

Neural

oval window

Receives vibrations from the ossicles

Round window

Part of the cochlea’s sound wave system

Cochlear duct

Contains endolymph

Endolymph

Fluid within the cochlear duct

Path of sound

Pinna, auditory canal, eardrum, ossicles, oval window, cochlea