The Outer Ear Consists of:

The Pinna - cartilaginous, highly variable in appearance, some landmarks.

External Auditory Canal (or external auditory meatus) - 2.5 cm tube.

External Auditory Canal

lateral portion-cartilagemedial portion-osseous lined with epidermal (skin)

tissuehairs in lateral partcerumen (ear wax) secreted

in lateral part.

Outer Ear FunctionsAmplification / FilteringProtection Localization

The Middle Ear:A cleft within the temporal bone

Lining is mucous membraneTympanic Membrane separates it from EACEustachian tube connects it to nasopharynxAlso Connected to Mastoid Air Cells

Middle Ear Structures

1- Malleus

2- Incus --Ossicles

3- Stapes

4- Tympanic Membrane (Eardrum)

5- Round Window

6- Eustachian Tube

Middle Ear Muscles

1. The Stapedius Attaches to Stapes,Contracts in Response to Loud sounds, chewing, speaking; Facial (VIIth cranial) nerve

2. The Tensor Tympani Helps open Eustachian tube

Middle Ear Functions

Impedance Matching

Filtering

Acoustic Reflex

Two Halves:Vestibular--transduces motion and pull of gravityCochlear--transduces sound energy

(Both use Hair Cells)

INNER EAR

Cochlear Functions

Transduction- Converting acoustical-mechanical energy into electro-chemical energy.

Frequency Analysis-Breaking sound up into its component frequencies

AfferentAfferent & Efferent Neurons

REFERENCES

www.google.comwww.teachingbiology.comweb.clas.ufl.edu/users/sgriff/courses