What are the components of the middle ear?
Vestibular canal, middle ear muscles, cochlea
Cochlea, middle ear muscles, ossicles
Eustachian tube, middle ear muscles, cochlea
Ossicles, middle ear muscles, Eustachian tube
What is the function of the ossicles?
Amplification
Decreasing instensity
Localisation
Protection
How else does the middle ear increase amplification?
The middle ear muscles vibrate helping sounds reverberate
17:1 ratio of oval window to tympanic membrane leading to increased intenisity
The opening and closing of the Eustachian tube intensifies vibrations
The external auditory meatus is funnel shaped increasing amplitude further down
a) How does the middle ear help protect against loud noises? b) What is this effective against?
a) Ossicles send some vibrations back toward tympanic membrane and out the ear b) Short term and self-generated sounds
a) Middle ear muscles clench around ossicles b) Only sounds above 45 deciBels
a) Middle ear muscles clench around ossicles b) Short term and self-generated sounds
a) Ossicles send some vibrations back toward tympanic membrane and out the earb) Only sounds above 45 deciBels
What is the function of the Eustachian tube?
Equalize the frequency of most sounds so that they are within the human-hearing spectrum
Decrease the intensity of sounds before they reach the inner ear
Amplify sounds before they reach the inner ear
Equalize pressure build-up in the ear