Ear Structure and Function 2

Front

What is ear wax?

Back

A natural substance produced by glands in the ear canal that traps dirt and bacteria to protect the ear and maintain hearing.

Front

What causes dizziness after spinning?

Back

Fluid moving in the semicircular canals of the inner ear.

Front

What is the pathway that sound follows to reach the brain?

Back

Ear Canal -> tympanic membrane -> ossicles -> cochlea -> auditory nerve.

Front

What is the correct order of the ossicles?

Back

Malleus (Hammer), then Incus (Anvil), then Stapes (Stirrup).

Front

What is the function of the Eustachian tube?

Back

To maintain appropriate pressure in the middle ear; yawning and chewing can help keep the pressure balanced.

Front

What is the cochlea?

Back

A spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear that converts sound vibrations into nerve impulses.

Front

What are the ossicles?

Back

Three tiny bones in the middle ear (malleus, incus, stapes) that amplify sound vibrations.

Front

What role does the tympanic membrane play in hearing?

Back

It vibrates in response to sound waves, transmitting the vibrations to the ossicles.

Front

What is the function of the auditory nerve?

Back

To carry sound information from the cochlea to the brain for processing.

Front

What are semicircular canals responsible for?

Back

They help maintain balance and spatial orientation by detecting rotational movements.