Deck 10: Auditory Physiology

Question 1

The frequency region that is most enhanced by the outer ear is

A) 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
B) 0.02 KHz to 20 KHz.
C) 1,500 Hz to 8,000 Hz.
D) none of the above.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The human ear has a frequency range of approximately

A) 10 octaves.
B) 10 decibels.
C) 10 Newtons.
D) none of the above.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The utricle and saccule sense

A) the force of gravity on the body.
B) acceleration of the head/body during movement.
C) rotation of the head in space.
D) none of the above.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The outer ear system results in a net gain of approximately how many dB at 2,000 Hz?

A) 20
B) 40
C) 60
D) None of the above

Question 5

The tympanic membrane has an effective area of approximately

A) 55 mm².
B) 3.2 mm².
C) 16 mm².
D) 85 mm².

Question 6

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

A) The tympanic membrane is approximately 17 times stiffer than the oval window.
B) The tensor tympani is approximately 17 times more flaccid than the stapedius.
C) The oval window is approximately 17 times smaller than the tympanic membrane.
D) None of the above.

Question 7

High-frequency sounds are processed

A) at the helicotrema.
B) at the apex.
C) at the base.
D) at the round window.

Question 8

The oval window has an effective area of approximately

A) 55 mm².
B) 3.2 mm².
C) 16 mm².
D) 85 mm².

Question 9

The middle ear serves an impedance-matching function by

A) amplifying the force per unit area.
B) reducing the area over which the existing force is exerted.
C) a & b
D) neither of the above.

Question 10

The combined area and lever advantages provide a gain of how many dB?

A) 25 dB
B) 27 dB
C) 2 dB
D) 45 dB

Question 11

Which of the following statements accurately reflects the function of the vestibular mechanism?

A) The cilia of the vestibular mechanism are stimulated by the acoustic signal input to the oval window.
B) The lateral semicircular canal senses acceleration in the vertical dimension.
C) As your head rotates, the fluid in the semicircular canals tends to remain in the same location.
D) None of the above.

Question 12

The length of the manubrium malli is approximately how many times that of the long process of the stapes?

A) 1.2
B) 2.4
C) 3.6
D) 4.8

Question 13

Because the outer ear has no "active elements,"

A) it can serve as an amplifier but not a filter.
B) it can serve as both filter and amplifier.
C) it can process only passive sounds.
D) it can serve as a filter but not an amplifier.

Question 14

When the stapes moves medially,

A) a wave is initially set up in the endolymph.
B) the perilymph of the scala vestibuli receives a compression pulse.
C) Reissner's membrane undergoes muscular contraction.
D) the organ of Corti vibrates at a resonant frequency equal to the whole-number multiple of the initial impulse.

Question 15

The outer ear can be viewed predominantly as

A) a vestigial structure that is no longer needed.
B) a collector of sound.
C) a musculotendinous structure suspended by ligaments.
D) a signal synthesizer.

Question 16

Approximately how many dB of gain does the middle ear lever advantage provide to the signal?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4

Question 17

The term "spectral analysis" refers to

A) analysis of the frequency components of sound.
B) analysis of the timing of acoustical events.
C) a & b
D) none of the above.

Question 18

To increase pressure, you must

A) increase force per unit area.
B) decrease the area over which force is exerted.
C) both a & b
D) none of the above.

Question 19

The acoustical gain arising from the area function is approximately

A) 17:1.
B)
B) 25 dB.
C) a &
D) none of the above.

Question 20

Which of the following is the formula for pressure?

A) P = F × A
B) P = F/A
C) P = F/A²
D) None of the above

Question 21

The basilar membrane (increases/decreases) ____________________ in stiffness from base to apex.

Question 22

The area benefit of the middle ear system provides an increase of about ____________________ dB.

Question 23

Resistance to the flow of energy is termed ____________________.

Question 24

The basilar membrane (increases/decreases) ____________________ in width from base to apex.

Question 25

The basilar membrane (increases/decreases) ____________________ in thickness from base to apex.

Question 26

Hair cells are stimulated when the cilia are bent (toward/away from) ____________________ the modiolus.

Question 27

Low-frequency sounds are processed

A) at the helicotrema.
B) at the apex.
C) at the base.
D) at the round window.

Question 28

The endocochlear potential is approximately ____________________ mV.

Question 29

As the mass of a vibrating body increases,

A) frequency of vibration increases.
B) frequency remains unchanged.
C) frequency of vibration decreases.
D) none of the above.

Question 30

The cilia of the inner hair cells are embedded in the ____________________.

Question 31

The basilar membrane

A) is flaccid at the apex.
B) consists primarily of otoliths.
C) is another name for Reissner's membrane.
D) is conical in shape.

Question 32

The lever benefit of the middle ear system refers to the relationship between processes of the ____________________ and the incus.

Question 33

Low-frequency sounds are processed at the ____________________ end of the cochlea.

Question 34

High-frequency sounds are processed at the ____________________ end of the cochlea.

Question 35

The stapedius muscle exerts a restraining force on the ____________________.

Question 36

The tensor tympani muscle exerts a restraining force on the ____________________.

Question 37

The lever benefit of the middle ear system provides an increase of about ____________________ dB.

Question 38

The point of maximal perturbation of the basilar membrane arising from the traveling wave

A) determines the temporal component of the traveling wave.
B) determines the zona pelicula for the traveling wave.
C) represents the frequency component determined by the umbo of the manubrium.
D) determines the hair cells that will be maximally stimulated to fire.

Question 39

The basal end of the basilar membrane

A) is stiffer than the apical end.
B) is made up of basal cells.
C) responds best to low (bass) frequency sounds.
D) none of the above.

Question 40

The area benefit of the middle ear system refers to the relationship between the area of the ____________________ and the oval window.

Question 41

Low spontaneous rate neurons have (low/high) ____________________ thresholds of stimulation.

Question 42

The ____________________ potential arises directly from stimulation of a large number of hair cells simultaneously, eliciting nearly simultaneous individual action potentials in the VIII nerve.

Question 43

The minimum audible frequency for humans is considered to be approximately ____________________ Hz.

Question 44

The audible range of frequency in humans spans approximately ____________________ octaves

Question 45

The ____________________ of a neuron is the frequency to which it responds best.

Question 46

The primary brainstem site for processing localization of sound in space is the ____________________.

Question 47

The first brainstem nucleus of the auditory pathway is the ____________________.

Question 48

The intracellular resting potential is about ____________________ mV.

Question 49

The area benefit of the middle ear transformer is approximately ____________________ dB.

Question 50

____________________ refers to the quality of a neuron's response to the period of the stimulus.

Question 51

Low-frequency sounds are localized by the superior olivary complex by means of interaural ____________________ difference.

Question 52

The ____________________ is an electrical potential that directly follows the input acoustic signal.

Question 53

The ____________________ potential is a sustained, direct-current (DC) shift in the endocochlear potential that occurs upon stimulation of the organ of Corti by sound.

Question 54

The (broader/sharper) ____________________ the tuning curve of an VIII nerve fiber is, the greater the frequency specificity of the basilar membrane.

Question 55

A ____________________ histogram displays the point in the cycle of vibration at which firing occurs.

Question 56

The maximum audible frequency for humans is considered to be approximately ____________________ Hz.

Question 57

High-frequency sounds are localized by the superior olivary complex by means of the interaural ____________________ difference.

Question 58

As intensity of a signal increases, the rate of firing of auditory nerve neurons (increases/decreases) ____________________.

Question 59

The endocochlear potential reflects an electrical potential difference between the ____________________ and the scala media.

Question 60

When the crossed-olivocochlear and uncrossed-olivocochlear bundles are stimulated, the firing rate of neurons innervated by them is (increased/reduced) ____________________ dramatically.

Question 61

Match each term to the correct descriptor. Terms may be used more than once or not at all.
a.high frequency
b.low frequency
c.localization of sound in space
d.temporal processing
e.spectral processing
f.interaural phase difference
g.interaural intensity difference
Provides localization cues for high-frequency sounds

Question 62

Match each term to the correct descriptor. Terms may be used more than once or not at all.
a.impedance matching
b.area ratio
c.lever ratio
d.buckling function
e.localization
A function of the pinna

Question 63

Match each term to the correct descriptor. Terms may be used more than once or not at all.
a.impedance matching
b.area ratio
c.lever ratio
d.buckling function
e.localization
A function of the relationship between the tympanic membrane and the oval window

Question 64

Match each term to the correct descriptor. Terms may be used more than once or not at all.
a.high frequency
b.low frequency
c.localization of sound in space
d.temporal processing
e.spectral processing
f.interaural phase difference
g.interaural intensity difference
A direct function of the rate of stimulation of the hair cells

Question 65

Match each term to the correct descriptor. Terms may be used more than once or not at all.
a.high frequency
b.low frequency
c.localization of sound in space
d.temporal processing
e.spectral processing
f.interaural phase difference
g.interaural intensity difference
Processed at the apical end of the cochlea

Question 66

What are the five basic physiological organizing principles that are involved in the transmission of an acoustic stimulus to the brain?

Question 67

Match each term to the correct descriptor. Terms may be used more than once or not at all.
a.impedance matching
b.area ratio
c.lever ratio
d.buckling function
e.localization
Provides a gain of 4-6 dB

Question 68

Match each term to the correct descriptor. Terms may be used more than once or not at all.
a.impedance matching
b.area ratio
c.lever ratio
d.buckling function
e.localization
Provides a gain of approximately 2 dB

Question 69

Match each term to the correct descriptor. Terms may be used more than once or not at all.
a.high frequency
b.low frequency
c.localization of sound in space
d.temporal processing
e.spectral processing
f.interaural phase difference
g.interaural intensity difference
Provides localization cues for low-frequency sounds

Question 70

What are the two main types of VIII nerve neurons?

Question 71

Match each term to the correct descriptor. Terms may be used more than once or not at all.
a.impedance matching
b.area ratio
c.lever ratio
d.buckling function
e.localization
A function of the tympanic membrane only

Question 72

What major disorder may arise due to noise pollution, and what study supports this information?

Question 73

Why are hair cells important, and what type of therapy is being developed to regenerate them?

Question 74

Match each term to the correct descriptor. Terms may be used more than once or not at all.
a.impedance matching
b.area ratio
c.lever ratio
d.buckling function
e.localization
A function of the olivary complex of the brainstem

Question 75

The lever benefit of the middle ear transformer is approximately ____________________ dB.

Question 76

Match each term to the correct descriptor. Terms may be used more than once or not at all.
a.impedance matching
b.area ratio
c.lever ratio
d.buckling function
e.localization
Provides a gain of approximately 25 dB

Question 77

Match each term to the correct descriptor. Terms may be used more than once or not at all.
a.high frequency
b.low frequency
c.localization of sound in space
d.temporal processing
e.spectral processing
f.interaural phase difference
g.interaural intensity difference
Processed within the olivary complex of the brainstem

Question 78

Match each term to the correct descriptor. Terms may be used more than once or not at all.
a.high frequency
b.low frequency
c.localization of sound in space
d.temporal processing
e.spectral processing
f.interaural phase difference
g.interaural intensity difference
Processed in the basal end of the cochlea

Question 79

What are five different types of neural responses to auditory stimulation?

Question 80

Match each term to the correct descriptor. Terms may be used more than once or not at all.
a.impedance matching
b.area ratio
c.lever ratio
d.buckling function
e.localization
A function of the middle ear