Auditory Sense

SUBMITTED TO:
MAM MINAHIL
SUBMITTED BY:
MAILA,MALAIKA
Topic:
Audition
Introduction:
 The sense of audition ( hearing) is
based on the physics of sound and
physiology of the external , middle and
inner ear. In addition, there is complex
neural processing along pathways to the
brain and with in brain regions involved
in sensing and perceiving acoustic
information.
Sound:
 Sound energy is transmitted through a
gaseous , liquid or solid medium by
setting up a vibration of the mediums
molecule.
 Ear is the most common medium in
which we hear sound energy.
 When there are no molecule , as in a
vaccum , there can be no sound.
 For example:
Formation of sound waves from a
vibrating tuning fork.
Sound transmission in the ear:
 The first step in hearing is the entrance of sound waves into
the external auditory canal. The shape of the outer ear and
the external auditory canal help to amplify and direct the
sound.
 The tympanic membrane ( ear drum ) is stretched across the
end of the external auditory canal and as air molecules push
against the membrane , the cause it to vibrate at the same
frequency as the sound wave.
 Under high pressure during a zone of compression the
tympanic membrane bows inward.
 During the subsequent zone of rarefaction the membrane
bows outward , when the sound ceases it return toward a
midpoint.
 The membrane responds to all the varying pressures of the
sound waves , vibrating slowly in response to low frequency
sound and rapidly in response to high frequency sound.
Structure of ear:
The middle and inner ear:
 The tympanic membrane separates the external auditory
canal from the middle ear , an air filled cavity in the
temporal bone of the skull.
 The middle ear cavity is exposed to atmospheric
pressure through the eustachian tube, which connects
the middle ear to the pharynx.
 A difference in pressure can produce with sudden
changes in altitude.
 The second step in hearing is the transmission of sound
energy from the tympanic membrane through the middle
ear cavity to the fluid filled inner ear.
 The amplified sound achieved by a moveable chain of
three small middle ear bones ; The malleus , incus and
stapes.
 These bones act as piston and couple the
vibrations of tympanic membrane to the Oval
Window.
 The amount of energy transmitted to the
inner ear can be lessend by the contraction
of two small skeletal muscle in the middle
ear. The tensor tympanic muscle attached
to the malleus , contraction of the muscle
dampens the bones movement. The
stapedius attached to the stape and
similarly control its mobility.
The Cochlea:
 The portion of the inner ear involved in sound transmission is
called the cochlea.
 The cochlea is almost completely divided lengthwise by a
membranous tube called the cochlea duct.
 The cochlear duct is filled with a fluid known as endolymph.
 On either side of the cochlear duct are compartments filled with a
fluid called perilymph.
 The scala vestibuli is above the cochlear duct and begins at the
oval window; the scala tympani is below the cochlear duct and
connects to the middle ear at a second membrane-covered
opening , the round window.
 The scala vestibuli and scala tympani are continuous at the far
end of the cochlear duct at the helicotrema.
 The side of the cochlear duct nearest to the scala tympani is
formed by the basilar membrane , upon which sits the organ of
Corti. Which contains the ear’s sensitive receptor cells.
Two pathways by which pressure waves move
one path is to the helicotrema and other path
is directly to the scala tympani.
Hair cell of the organ of corti:
 The receptor cells of the organ of the corti are called hair
cells. These are called mechanoreceptors that have
stereocilia. There are two separate groups of hair cells a
row of inner hair cells and three rows of outer hair cells.
 Stereocilia of inner hair cells extend into endolymph fluid
and stereocilia of outer hair cells embedded in tectorial
membrane.
 As pressure waves displace the basilar membrane
stereocilia bend towards the tallest member fibrous
connection is called tip link.
 The neurotransmitter released from each hair cell is
glutamate which binds to and activates protein binding
sites. This causes the generation of action potential in the
neurons axons of which join to form vestibulocochlear
nerve.
Neural pathways in hearing:
 Cochlear nerve fibers enter the brainstem and
synapse with inter-neurons there. Fibers from
both ears often converge on the same neuron.
 Many of these interneurons are influenced by
the different arrival times and intensities of the
input from two ears. The different arrival times
of low-frequency sounds and the different
intensities of high-frequency sounds are used
to determine the direction of the sound source.
 Hearing aids amplify incoming sounds, which
then pass via the ear canal to the same
cochlear mechanisms used for normal sound.
 When substantial damage has occurred,
however, and hearing aids cannot correct the
deafness, electric devices known as cochlear
implants may in some cases partially restore
functional hearing.
 In response to sound, cochlear implants
directly stimulate the cochlear nerve with tiny
electrical currents so that sound signals are
transmitted directly to the auditory pathways,
by passing the cochlea.
Thank You

Auditory Sense

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