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Related Concept Videos

Auditory Pathway01:15

Auditory Pathway

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Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking...
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Anatomy of the Ear01:16

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Auditory sensation, commonly called hearing, involves the transformation of sonic waves into neural impulses facilitated by the structures of the auditory organ. The prominent, flesh-like structure on the side of the head, called the auricle, directs sound waves towards the auditory canal. The auricle is often mislabeled as the pinna, a term more aligned with mobile structures like a feline's external ear. The auditory canal penetrates the cranium via the external auditory meatus of the...
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When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.
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The Auditory Ossicles01:11

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The auditory ossicles of the middle ear transmit sounds from the air as vibrations to the fluid-filled cochlea. The auditory ossicles consist of two malleus (hammer) bones, two incus (anvil) bones, and two stapes (stirrups), one on each side. These bones develop during the fetal stage and are the ones to ossify first. They are fully mature at birth and do not grow afterward.
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The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.
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Auditory Perception01:17

Auditory Perception

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The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the...
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Extracting the Cochlea from a Human Temporal Bone: A Cadaveric Protocol
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The outer ear pathway during hearing by bone conduction.

Sudeep Surendran1, Stefan Stenfelt1

  • 1Division of Sensory Organs and Communication, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Campus US, Linköping University, Linköping 581 85, Sweden.

Hearing Research
|November 15, 2021
PubMed
Summary

The ear canal sound pressure significantly contributes to bone-conducted (BC) hearing, especially in mid-frequencies, contrary to previous models. This research clarifies BC hearing mechanisms for better audiological understanding.

Keywords:
Bone conduction hearingEar canal sound pressureHearing thresholdMastoid stimulationOuter ear pathway

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Area of Science:

  • Audiology
  • Hearing Science
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Conflicting literature exists regarding the influence of ear canal sound pressure on bone-conducted (BC) hearing perception.
  • Understanding this contribution is crucial for accurate hearing assessment and device fitting.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and quantify the contribution of ear canal sound pressure to BC hearing thresholds.
  • To compare ear canal sound pressure at threshold for air-conducted (AC) and BC stimulation across a wide frequency range.

Main Methods:

  • Twenty-one adults with normal hearing were tested for AC and BC hearing thresholds (250 Hz–12.5 kHz).
  • Ear canal sound pressure was measured using probe tube microphones near the eardrum.
  • Contralateral masking was used to account for central masking effects in BC testing.

Main Results:

  • The contribution of ear canal sound pressure to BC hearing is approximately 10 dB below other factors below 2 kHz, similar between 2-4 kHz, and declines significantly above 4 kHz.
  • Ear canal resonance facilitates BC hearing in the mid-frequency range.
  • Model predictions underestimated the ear canal sound pressure contribution to BC hearing by about 10 dB.

Conclusions:

  • Ear canal sound pressure plays a more significant role in BC hearing than previously modeled, particularly in mid-frequencies.
  • Findings highlight the importance of considering ear canal acoustics in BC hearing research and clinical practice.
  • The study identified issues with artificial mastoid impedance in BC transducer force estimation.