Question 1

The three auditory ossicles are the malleus, incus, and the

Accepted Answer

The three auditory ossicles in the middle ear are the malleus, incus, and stapes. The stapes is the smallest bone in the human body and works with the malleus (hammer) and incus (anvil) to transmit sound vibrations to the inner ear.

Question 2

The cochlea is made up of the

Accepted Answer

The cochlea contains the organ of Corti, hair cells, and stereocilia, which are essential for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain.

Question 3

The physical "height" of a sound wave that tells how much energy the wave contains is called

Accepted Answer

The amplitude of a sound wave refers to its height, which indicates the amount of energy the wave contains. Higher amplitude means louder sound, while lower amplitude means softer sound.

Question 4

Sound energy is converted to nerve impulses by the hair cells inside the

Accepted Answer

The cochlea, located in the inner ear, contains hair cells that convert sound vibrations into electrical signals, which are then transmitted to the brain as nerve impulses. This process is essential for hearing.

Question 5

The hair cells of the cochlea serve a function in hearing that is similar to the function of which of the following in vision?

Accepted Answer

The hair cells of the cochlea in the ear are analogous to the rods and cones in the retina of the eye because both are sensory receptors responsible for converting physical stimuli (sound waves for hair cells, light waves for rods and cones) into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain.

Question 6

The eardrum is linked with the cochlea by the

Accepted Answer

The auditory ossicles, which consist of the malleus, incus, and stapes, connect the eardrum (tympanic membrane) to the cochlea. These bones transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the oval window of the cochlea.

Question 7

The part of the ear that acts as a funnel to concentrate sounds and guide them into the ear canal is called the

Accepted Answer

The pinna is the external part of the ear that acts as a funnel to concentrate sounds and guide them into the ear canal, leading towards the eardrum and the inner parts of the ear.

Question 8

In the auditory system, the first anatomical structure that is set in motion by the sound wave is

Accepted Answer

The eardrum, or tympanic membrane, is the first anatomical structure in the auditory system that vibrates in response to sound waves, initiating the process of hearing.

Question 9

Which of the following is the center part of the cochlea and contains the hair cells?

Accepted Answer

The organ of Corti is the center part of the cochlea and contains the hair cells responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that the brain can interpret.

Question 10

Sound vibrations make waves in the fluid inside the cochlea. These waves in the fluid are detected in the cochlea by

Accepted Answer

Hair cells in the cochlea are responsible for detecting the waves in the fluid caused by sound vibrations. These cells convert the mechanical energy of sound waves into electrical signals that the brain can interpret as sound.

Question 11

The loudness of a sound corresponds to which aspect of a sound wave?

Accepted Answer

The loudness of a sound is directly related to the amplitude of the sound wave. Higher amplitude waves have higher energy, which is perceived as louder sound.

Question 12

Which of the following is a membrane on the cochlea that is attached to the stapes and moves back and forth, making waves in the fluid inside the cochlea?

Accepted Answer

The oval window is the membrane on the cochlea that is attached to the stapes. When the stapes moves, it pushes the oval window in and out, creating waves in the fluid inside the cochlea, which is essential for the process of hearing.

Question 13

The final step (within the inner ear)that is required to convert vibrations into sound sensations involves the movement of the

Accepted Answer

Hair cells in the inner ear are responsible for converting the mechanical vibrations into electrical signals that the brain interprets as sound. This occurs after the vibrations have been transmitted through the tympanic membrane and ossicles.

Question 14

Grandma told the grandkids that their "PaPa" was right about the "little hammer and other things" being in their heads. She then added that their inner ears look like snails. This fluid-filled structure that looks like a snail is the

Accepted Answer

The cochlea is the part of the inner ear that is shaped like a snail and is responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that the brain can interpret as sound.

Question 15

The thin membrane that moves in and out in response to sound waves colliding with it and passes the vibration on to the middle ear is the

Accepted Answer

The tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum, is the thin membrane that vibrates in response to sound waves, transmitting these vibrations to the bones in the middle ear.

Question 16

The external, or visible, part of the ear is called the

Accepted Answer

The pinna is the external part of the ear that is visible on the sides of the head, responsible for capturing sound waves and directing them into the ear canal.

Question 17

Grandpa teased his grandchildren by saying that they have little hammers, anvils, and stirrups in their heads. They hollered, "No, you're wrong, PaPa." However, their grandpa was right, since these are the common names for the

Accepted Answer

The little hammers, anvils, and stirrups refer to the malleus, incus, and stapes, respectively, which are the three tiny bones in the middle ear known as the ossicles. These bones play a crucial role in transmitting sound vibrations from the ear drum to the inner ear.

Question 18

The artist Van Gogh cut off the external part of his ear. A psychologist would refer to the part that was cut off as the

Accepted Answer

The pinna is the external part of the ear that is visible on the outside of the head, which is the part Van Gogh is famously known to have cut off.

Question 19

Which one of the following sequences is the correct one for audition?

Accepted Answer

The correct sequence for audition starts with the eardrum (which vibrates in response to sound waves), followed by the ossicles (tiny bones that amplify and transmit the vibrations to the cochlea), then the cochlea (a fluid-filled spiral structure that converts the vibrations into neural signals), and finally, the hair cells (sensory cells within the cochlea that detect the vibrations and initiate the signal to the brain).

Question 20

The pitch of a sound corresponds to which aspect of the sound wave?

Accepted Answer

The pitch of a sound is determined by the frequency of the sound wave. Higher frequencies correspond to higher pitches, while lower frequencies correspond to lower pitches.

Quiz 4: Sensation and Perception