Ear, Taste, and Smell

Front

What are the three small bones in the middle ear called?

Back

The three small bones in the middle ear are called the auditory ossicles: malleus, incus, and stapes.

Front

What is the function of the tympanic membrane?

Back

The tympanic membrane, or eardrum, vibrates in response to sound waves, transmitting sound to the auditory ossicles.

Front

What is the role of the semicircular canals in the inner ear?

Back

The semicircular canals help maintain balance by detecting rotational movements of the head.

Front

What are papillae on the tongue?

Back

Papillae are small projections on the surface of the tongue that contain taste buds.

Front

Describe the pathway of sound through the ear.

Back

Sound travels through the external acoustic meatus, vibrates the tympanic membrane, and then is transmitted through the auditory ossicles.

Front

What is the cochlea and its function?

Back

The cochlea is a spiral-shaped structure in the inner ear that converts sound vibrations into neural signals.

Front

How do taste buds function?

Back

Taste buds contain sensory cells that detect different taste modalities: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.

Front

What is the vestibular apparatus?

Back

The vestibular apparatus is a structure in the inner ear that helps maintain balance and spatial orientation.

Front

What is the role of fluid in the vestibular apparatus?

Back

Fluid movement in the vestibular apparatus helps stimulate sensory hair cells, which send signals to the brain about head position and movement.

Front

What is the external acoustic meatus?

Back

The external acoustic meatus is the ear canal that directs sound waves to the tympanic membrane.