Ear Anatomy Basics
This part of the ear is commonly referred to as the "ear canal."
What is the external auditory meatus?
This ossicle is directly attached to the tympanic membrane.
What is the malleus?
This fluid fills the scala vestibuli and scala tympani.
What is perilymph?
These hair cells are primarily associated with afferent (sensory) innervation.
What are the inner hair cells?
This condition involves fluid accumulation and infection in the middle ear.
What is otitis media?
The ear canal is composed of cartilage in this portion.
What is the lateral 1/3?
The stapes transmits vibrations to this inner ear structure.
What is the oval window?
The cochlear duct is part of this scala.
What is the scala media?
Type I fibers, which are large and myelinated, mainly connect to these hair cells.
What are inner hair cells?
Chronic otitis media can lead to this scarring condition.
What is tympanosclerosis?
The innermost part of the external auditory meatus leads to this structure.
What is the tympanic membrane (TM)?
These two muscles stiffen the middle ear to reduce excessive vibrations.
What are the tensor tympani and stapedius muscles?
The sensory apparatus for hearing is located here.
What is the Organ of Corti?
This nerve transmits signals from the cochlea to the brain.
What is the vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)?
The vestibular system is primarily responsible for this.
What is maintaining balance and spatial orientation?
These two structures make up the outer ear and act as resonators.
What are the auricle (pinna) and external auditory meatus (EAM)?
This tube connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx.
What is the Eustachian tube?
These structures in the inner ear are primarily responsible for balance.
What are the semicircular canals?
The Organ of Corti contains this many rows of hair cells.
What is 4 rows?
The ear acts as a transducer by doing this.
What is converting acoustic energy into electrochemical energy?
The "S" shape of this structure helps filter dust and debris.
What is the external auditory meatus (EAM)?
The cone of light seen during an otoscopic exam reflects off this structure.
What is the tympanic membrane?
This opening connects the scala vestibuli and scala tympani at the cochlea’s apex.
What is the helicotrema?
Type II fibers, which are small and both myelinated and unmyelinated are associated with these types of hair cells.
What are outer hair cells?
The auditory system was crucial for early humans because it helped with this survival need.
What is detecting predators/prey (environmental sounds)?