Question 1

Conduction deafness might be caused by damage to ________.&#10;A) cochlea&#10;B) tympanic membrane&#10;C) cochlear nerve&#10;D) basilar membrane

Accepted Answer

Conduction deafness occurs when there is a problem in the outer or middle ear that prevents sound vibrations from reaching the inner ear. A damaged tympanic membrane (eardrum) can lead to such a problem.

Question 2

As sound levels increase in the organ of Corti ________.&#10;A) outer hair cells bend the cilia away from the kinocilium&#10;B) inner hair cells bend the cilia away from the kinocilium&#10;C) inner hair cells stiffen the basilar membrane&#10;D) outer hair cells stiffen the basilar membrane

Accepted Answer

As sound levels increase in the organ of Corti, outer hair cells stiffen the basilar membrane, which changes the shape of the tectorial membrane and enhances the bending of the cilia, allowing for higher sensitivity to sound. This is known as the "cochlear amplifier." Inner hair cells do not play a significant role in this process.

Question 3

What are the receptors for dynamic equilibrium?&#10;A) maculae&#10;B) ampulla&#10;C) cristae&#10;D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The receptors for dynamic equilibrium are the cristae, located in the ampulla of the semicircular canals. The maculae are receptors for static equilibrium.

Question 4

What is the hearing test that involves placing a tuning fork on the mastoid process?&#10;A) Nystagmus&#10;B) Weber's&#10;C) Rinne&#10;D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

Placing a tuning fork on the mastoid process is part of the Rinne hearing test, which compares bone conduction (tuning fork on mastoid process) to air conduction (tuning fork held near ear). Nystagmus and Weber's tests involve different methods with tuning forks.

Question 5

The eye movement called ________ is a tracking mechanism that occurs when a person is reading.&#10;A) vertigo&#10;B) nystagmus&#10;C) saccades&#10;D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

Saccades are rapid eye movements that allow the eyes to quickly move from one point of focus to another. When reading, saccades allow the eyes to jump from one word to the next. Vertigo is a feeling of dizziness, and nystagmus is an involuntary eye movement that can be a symptom of certain medical conditions, but neither are related to reading.

Question 6

The amplitude of sounds waves determines the ________.&#10;A) pitch&#10;B) loudness&#10;C) location of sound&#10;D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The loudness of a sound is directly related to the amplitude of the sound waves. A greater amplitude means a louder sound. Pitch is determined by the frequency of the sound waves and the location of sound is determined by the way it interacts with the environment, such as bouncing off surfaces.

Question 7

Which bone is attached to the tympanic membrane?&#10;A) malleus&#10;B) stapes&#10;C) cochlea&#10;D) incus

Accepted Answer

The malleus bone is attached to the tympanic membrane. It is the first of the three ossicles in the middle ear and connects to the incus bone, which in turn connects to the stapes bone. The vibration of the tympanic membrane causes the malleus bone to move, which then moves the other two ossicles, transmitting sound waves to the inner ear.

Question 8

Vibration of the ________ causes the hair cells of the cochlea to vibrate.&#10;A) scala tympani&#10;B) scala vestibule&#10;C) basilar membrane&#10;D) tectorial membrane

Accepted Answer

The basilar membrane contains the hair cells of the cochlea, which are responsible for transducing sound waves into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. As the fluid-filled cochlea vibrates in response to sound waves, the basilar membrane vibrates, causing the hair cells to bend and generate electrical signals.

Question 9

What is the proper sequence of events that occurs in the ear when sound waves hit the tympanic membrane?&#10;A) displacement of the auditory ossicles, pressure waves occur in the perilymph, the basilar membrane is displaced, stimulation of the cranial nerve VIII, vibration of hair cells against the tectorial membrane&#10;B) displacement of auditory ossicles, pressure waves occur in the perilymph, the basilar membrane is distorted, vibration of hair cells against the tectorial membrane, stimulation of cranial nerve VIII&#10;C) displacement of auditory ossicles, the basilar membrane is displaced, pressure waves occur in the perilymph, vibration of hair cells against the tectorial membrane, stimulation of cranial nerve VIII&#10;D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The correct sequence is displacement of auditory ossicles, pressure waves occur in the perilymph, the basilar membrane is distorted, vibration of hair cells against the tectorial membrane, stimulation of cranial nerve VIII. This is because the sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate, which displaces the auditory ossicles. The ossicles then transmit the vibrations to the oval window of the inner ear, creating pressure waves in the perilymph. These pressure waves cause the basilar membrane to vibrate, which in turn causes the hair cells to bend against the tectorial membrane. The bending of the hair cells results in the generation of electrical impulses that stimulate the auditory nerve (cranial nerve VIII).

Question 10

What are the receptors for static equilibrium?&#10;A) cristae&#10;B) saccule&#10;C) maculae&#10;D) ampulla

Accepted Answer

The receptors for static equilibrium are called maculae, which are located in the utricle and saccule of the inner ear. The saccule is also listed as an option, but it is not the best choice as it is only one of the two structures that contain maculae, while the utricle contains the other. Cristae and ampulla are receptors for dynamic equilibrium, which detects changes in head rotation and linear acceleration.

Question 11

The number of compressed regions that pass a given point in one second is ________ of the sound.&#10;A) pitch&#10;B) decibels&#10;C) intensity&#10;D) hertz

Accepted Answer

The answer of The number of compressed regions that pass...

Question 12

What part of the cochlea do the hair cells vibrate against?&#10;A) basilar membrane&#10;B) tectorial membrane&#10;C) scala vestibule&#10;D) scala tympani

Accepted Answer

The answer of What part of the cochlea do the...

Deck 32: Physiology of the Ear