Hearing and Auditory System

What are the three main parts of the ear?

• left ear, right ear, back ear

• outer ear, middle ear, inner ear

• big ear, small ear, medium ear

• top ear, bottom ear, front ear

Explain how sound waves travel through the ear.

• The ear absorbs the sound waves and converts them into electrical signals

• Vibrations from the sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate, which then transmit through the middle ear bones to the inner ear.

• The ear amplifies the sound waves and then sends them to the brain

• Sound waves travel through the ear by creating a vacuum in the ear canal

What is the function of the eardrum?

• Store memories

• Produce earwax

• Transmit sound vibrations to the middle ear

• Regulate body temperature

Describe the process of how the ear converts sound waves into electrical signals.

• The sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate, which directly sends electrical signals to the brain

• The ear canal amplifies the sound waves and converts them into electrical signals

• The ear drum absorbs the sound waves and converts them into electrical signals

• The sound waves cause the tiny hair cells in the cochlea to move, which triggers the release of neurotransmitters, creating electrical signals sent to the brain.

What is the role of the cochlea in the auditory system?

• Transducing sound vibrations into electrical signals

• Balancing fluid levels in the ear

• Amplifying sound waves

• Filtering out background noise

How does the brain interpret different pitches of sound?

• Frequency of the sound waves

• Temperature of the sound waves

• Color of the sound waves

• Length of the sound waves

What are the tiny hair cells in the inner ear and what is their function?

• Tympanic membrane

• Cochlea

• Stereocilia

• Eustachian tube

Explain the difference between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

• Conductive hearing loss is common in older adults, while sensorineural hearing loss is common in children.

• Conductive hearing loss is caused by problems with the ear canal, eardrum, or middle ear, while sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve.

• Conductive hearing loss is caused by loud noises, while sensorineural hearing loss is caused by earwax buildup.

• Conductive hearing loss is temporary, while sensorineural hearing loss is permanent.

What is the purpose of the auditory nerve?

• To carry sound information from the inner ear to the brain.

• To control muscle movement in the legs

• To regulate body temperature

• To carry visual information from the eye to the brain

How does the brain localize the source of a sound?

• By comparing the time it takes for the sound to reach each ear, as well as the differences in intensity and frequency of the sound waves received by each ear.

• By asking other people where the sound is coming from

• By using echolocation like bats

• By smelling the sound waves in the air