What is used to test hearing range?
Audiogram (the higher up the better the hearing)
Function of external ear?
Receives sound
Function of middle ear?
Tympanic memrane : oval window ratio?
Acts as an amplifier
* 18:1 (impedance matching air to liquid)
Closure and opening of eustachian tube?
Function of tube?
Resting state of cartilaginous tube is closed but opened by tensor veli palatini & levator palatine muscles
*pressure equalisation in ears (dysfunction leads to middle ear negative pressure)
Oval and round windows?
Function?
2 openings of cochlea into middle ear
* transmission of pressure wave + vibration of basilar membrane
What causes fluid vibration?
Explain how vibration is picked up by basilar membrane?
Movement of stapes via stapedius (smallest skeletal muscle in the entire body)
Function of inner ear?
Structure?
What is found in centre?
Receiver/transducer (fluid -> AP)
Explain structure of cochlea
What do these open up into?
Scala media (endolymph) suspended in between scala tympani & scala vestibuli (perilymph)
Ionic composition of periplymph and endolymph?
Perilymph
* Na+
Endolymph
* K+
Explain central pathway of sound perception? (5)
Organ of Corti depolarises and fires
Stimulates VIIIth nerve and then central pathways
E COLI
Where is primary auditory cortex?
Posterior superior temporal gyrus
When can foetus hear?
18 weeks - foetus can hear
26 weeks - foetus will respond to sound/voice
Universal neonatal screening for hearing loss?
OAEs can be identified in normal cochlea - if absent, suggest a problem
Explain how cochlear implant works
* Will coil around cochlear nerve
Normal development of hearing/vocals? (5)
Explain balance input/output to central pathway?
Input (4)
Output (2)
Explain the input/output involved in Rombergs test? (standing on foam)
Input = vestibular Output = vestibulospinal
(if fall over = positive rombergs)
vestibular nerve supply to inner ear?
Hair cells of inner ear? (2)
Mechanism?
Movement of hair cells towards longest = depolarises (increases firing rate)
If movement away from longest = hyperpolarised (decreases firing rate)
Otolith organs?
Explain structure
Utricle and saccule
* maculae of these organs have stereocilia projecting upwards into gel membrane + otoconia (the gel membrane pulls the hairs in different directions)
What allows the head to perceive position and movement when tilting head or making horizontal movements?
Otolith organs
Also in a lift, it is your otolith organ that allows you to sense whether you’e going up or down even tho you can’t see
how many semi-circular canals are there?
Orientation?
3 on each side of the head
They are paired
* orientated at 90* from each other
What is the ampullary capula?
Function?
Sits in ampulla of semi-circular canal
Vestibulo-occular reflex input and output?
(hold thumb, look at it, turn head)