The Ear

The Ear

1. External ear- includes the pinna; structure of flesh and cartilage

2. Tympanic membrane- eardrum is in the middle ear and vibrates at the same frequency as the sound wave that strikes it

   • Frequency- number of compressions per second. Measured in Hz. Smaller gaps between waves=higher frequency
   • Amplitude- the intensity. High waves=higher intensity

3. Ossicles/oval window- connected to the tympanic membran are three tiny bones that transmit the vibrations from the ossicles to the oval window (a membrane of the inner ear

   • Malleus/ hammer
   • Incus/ anvil
   • Stapes/ stirrup

4. Cochlea- snail shaped structure in the inner ear that has three long, filled with fluid, tunnels.

   • Scala vestibular, scala media, scala tympani

5. Hair cells- auditory receptors that lie between the basilar membrane of the cochlea on one side and the tectorial membrane on the other.

   • Vibrations of the fluid of the cochlea displace the hair cells which opens the ion channels. Depolarization occurs as positive charged potassium wants to enter the negatively charged cell.

Images and files in the map