Table of Contents
What attaches the ear to the brain?
The snail-shaped cochlea changes the vibrations from the middle ear into nerve signals. These signals travel to the brain along the cochlear nerve, also known as the auditory nerve. The semicircular canals look like three tiny connected tubes.
What are the two tubes associated with the middle ear?
Ossicles and Their Function The oval window membrane is one of two membranes that separate the middle ear space from the inner ear. The other is the round window membrane. The Eustachian tube [7] connects the middle ear space to the upper part of the throat.
What is the tube leading from the auricle to the middle ear?
Body Functions ears
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| The tube leading from each pinna (auricle) to a tympanic membrane is called the | external auditory canal. |
| A tympanic membrane is AKA | “eardrum.” |
| Each external auditory canal is lined with modified sebaceous glands that produce | cerumen AKA “earwax.” |
Why are the ears not seen on the side of the head?
It is homologous to the tip of the ears of pointy-eared mammals. The ears are located symmetrically on either side of the head, which allows for binaural sound localization in the brain regarding direction and distance away.
What is the function of the middle ear?
The main function of the middle ear is to carry sound waves from the outer ear to the inner ear, which contains the cochlea and where sound input can be communicated to the brain. Sound waves are funneled into the outer ear and strike the tympanic membrane, causing it to vibrate.
How does the cochlea of the ear work?
The cochlea is filled with a fluid that moves in response to the vibrations from the oval window. As the fluid moves, 25,000 nerve endings are set into motion. These nerve endings transform the vibrations into electrical impulses that then travel along the eighth cranial nerve (auditory nerve) to the brain.
How does the Eustachian tube work in the ear?
The Eustachian tube, which opens into the middle ear, is responsible for equalizing the pressure between the air outside the ear and that within the middle ear.
How does the ear connect to the inner ear?
The tiny stapes bone attaches to the oval window that connects the middle ear to the inner ear. The Eustachian tube, which opens into the middle ear, is responsible for equalizing the pressure between the air outside the ear and that within the middle ear. The sound waves enter the inner ear and then into the cochlea, a snail-shaped organ.