Outer Ear Anatomy
This is what we typically refer to as "the ear".
What is the pinna?
This is the mode of operation of the outer ear.
What is air vibration?
This marks the boundary between the outer and middle ear.
What is the tympanic membrane?
This is the mode of operation of the middle ear.
What is mechanical vibration?
Describe the shape and angle of the tympanic membrane.
What is concave and leaning superiorly at a 55 degree?
This is what we typically refer to as the "ear canal".
What is the external auditory canal?
These are the 3 functions of the outer ear.
What is protection, amplification, and localization?
These three bones make up the ossicular chain.
What is the incus, malleus, and stapes?
These are the 3 functions of the middle ear.
What is impedance matching, selective oval window stimulation, and pressure equalization?
Describe the manner in which the stapes moves on the oval window?
What is like a door hinge?
This is the only part of the outer ear that is not comprised of cartilage.
What is the lobule?
This is the range of frequencies amplified by the resonances of the outer ear, improving intelligibility for human speech.
What is 2-5kHz?
This connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx.
What is the Eustachian tube?
These are the three methods of impedance matching by the middle ear.
What is area ratio, ossicular lever, and the buckling effect?
Innervation for the tensor tympani muscle.
What is CN V (Trigeminal)?
This is the bowl-shaped cavity that funnels sound into the external auditory canal.
What is the concha bowl?
The pinna helps us monaurally localize sounds in which two tasks?
What is determining elevation of sound and resolving front-back confusions?
This is the smallest lin the human body at 6mm long.
What is the stapedius?
The middle ear muscle reflex reduces the transmission of what kind of sounds?
What is intense (and especially low frequency) sounds?
What is CN VII (Facial)?
This substance is secreted by glands in the outer ear and provides protection and lubrication for the ear.
What is cerumen?
These are the two types of binaural cues we have for localization of sounds.
What is interaural intensity differences (IID) and interaural time differences (ITD)?
This muscle can be activated by a puff of air to the face.
What is the tensor tympani?
This tube allows for pressure equalization between the middle ear and atmospheric pressure.
What is the Eustachian tube?
This bone is the smallest in the human body, and is also known as the "stirrup".
What is the stapes?