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1.Imagine that you are a sound wave. In order, describe the structures of the ear that you would encounter, starting with the outer ear and finishing with the Organ of Corti. pinna, auditory canal, tympanum, ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes), oval window, cochlea, organ of Corti
2.What happens to the energy of sound waves, which travel through air, once they reach the tympanum?
When sound waves contact the tympanum they cause it to vibrate. Its vibrations are passed on and amplified by the neighbouring ossicles. Each bone vibrates more than the next one so that the vibrations are amplified as they pass from one to the other. The last bone concentrates the vibrations onto the oval window. The vibrations in turn cause the fluid in the cochlea to vibrate, causing pressure waves.
3.How is the surrounding medium of the inner ear different from that of the middle ear? What has to happen to the vibrations in the middle ear in order to accommodate this difference?
The middle ear is filled with air whereas the inner ear is filled with fluid. In order to convert the sound vibrations of the middle ear into the pressure waves of the inner ear the sound vibrations have to be amplified a great deal. It is much harder to move fluid than it is to move air.
4.What is the role of the hair cells located in the organ of Corti?
The role or function of the hair cells is to initiate a nerve impulse when they are stimulated by the pressure waves in the fluid of the inner ear.
5.Nerve impulses initiated in the organ of Corti are sent to which part of the brain?
The auditory nerve transmits nerve impulses initiated by the hair cells to the temporal lobe of the cerebrum. Note: Biology 30 students require a more sophisticated and detailed answer than just simply “the cerebrum”!
2.What happens to the energy of sound waves, which travel through air, once they reach the tympanum?
When sound waves contact the tympanum they cause it to vibrate. Its vibrations are passed on and amplified by the neighbouring ossicles. Each bone vibrates more than the next one so that the vibrations are amplified as they pass from one to the other. The last bone concentrates the vibrations onto the oval window. The vibrations in turn cause the fluid in the cochlea to vibrate, causing pressure waves.
3.How is the surrounding medium of the inner ear different from that of the middle ear? What has to happen to the vibrations in the middle ear in order to accommodate this difference?
The middle ear is filled with air whereas the inner ear is filled with fluid. In order to convert the sound vibrations of the middle ear into the pressure waves of the inner ear the sound vibrations have to be amplified a great deal. It is much harder to move fluid than it is to move air.
4.What is the role of the hair cells located in the organ of Corti?
The role or function of the hair cells is to initiate a nerve impulse when they are stimulated by the pressure waves in the fluid of the inner ear.
5.Nerve impulses initiated in the organ of Corti are sent to which part of the brain?
The auditory nerve transmits nerve impulses initiated by the hair cells to the temporal lobe of the cerebrum. Note: Biology 30 students require a more sophisticated and detailed answer than just simply “the cerebrum”!