Anatomy and Physiology of Hearing

Flashcards based on Anatomy and Physiology of Hearing lecture notes.

Ossicles

The bones in the middle ear: malleus, incus, and stapes.

Auricle

Also known as the pinna.

Oracle

Another name for the pinna.

Pinna

The primary function is collection of sound and sound localization.

Helix

Outer margin of the auricle/pinna.

Concha

Shell-like structure of the auricle that leads to the ear canal entrance.

Tragus

Flap of tissue at the entrance to the ear canal.

Lobule

Non-cartilaginous region in the inferior aspect of the pinna.

Tympanic membrane (ear drum)

Separates the outer and middle ear.

Ossicles

Provide an impedance matching device from the air to the fluid-filled inner ear. They are the smallest bones of the body.

Stapedius muscle

Safety mechanism that acts to restrain movement of the footplate of the stapes.

Oval window

Membrane covering the entrance of the cochlea; supports the base of the stapes.

Inner ear

Houses the sensors for hearing and balance.

Outer ear

Outer ear can be viewed predominantly as a collector of sounds.

Outer ear

Performs temporal and spectral analysis of the signal.

Base (of Cochlea)

High frequency sounds are processed at the base of the cochlea.

Apex (of Cochlea)

Low frequency sounds are processed at the apex of the cochlea.

Helicotrema

Location where endolymph and perilymph mix within the cochlea.

Traveling wave

A disturbance (or point of maximum displacement) of the basilar membrane.

Incus

One of the ossicles in the middle ear.

Cochlea

The auditory portion of the inner ear.