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Chapter 17
The Auditory System
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Undergraduate 3
09/29/2015

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Term
What is the adequate stimulus for the auditory receptors?
Definition
sound waves with frequencies between 20 & about 20,000 Hz
Term
The _____ of sound waves determines the pitch, whereas the _____ of the waves determines the intensity
Definition
frequency; amplitude
Term
cochlea
Definition
a chain of 3 tiny bones to which the tympanic membrane transmits sound waves it receives through the air
Term
hair cells
Definition
the sensory cells of the cochlea; low-threshold mechanoreceptors sensitive to the bending of stereocilia on their surface
Term
cochlear nuclei
Definition
where the cochlea conducts signals to in the brain stem via the 8th cranial nerve (vestibulocochlear nerve)
Term
From the cochlear nuclei, what kind of pathways carry signals to the inferior colliculus?
Definition
auditory pathways
Term
medial geniculate body
Definition
part of the thalamus where neurons in the inferior colliculus send their axons
Term
primary auditory area
Definition
situated on the upper face of the temporal lobe; where thalamocortical axons reach
Term
What is crucial for our ability to localize sounds?
Definition
nuclei in the brain stem receiving signals from both ears with a time difference
Term
labyrinth
Definition
an outer bony part surrounding an irregular canal in the temporal bone & an inner membranous part following & partly filling the canal
Term
endolymph
Definition
the fluid that fills the membranous canal of the labyrinth
Term
perilymph
Definition
the fluid that fills the space between the membranous & the bony parts of the labyrinth
Term
The cilia of the sensory cells of the labyrinth, surrounded by the endolymph, are embedded in an unusual ECF with _____ as the dominating cation
Definition
K+
Term
endocochlear potential
Definition
the potential of about 90 mV between the endolymph & the perilymph created by the high K+ concentration
Term
membranous part of the cochlea (the cochlear duct)
Definition
forms a thin-walled tube with a triangular shape, surrounded by the bony part of the cochlea
Term
basilar membrane
Definition
forms the lowermost wall of the cochlear duct; suspended between the two facing sides of the bony canal
Term
bony spiral lamina
Definition
a bony prominence to which the basilar membrane is attached at the inner side of the turns of the cochlear duct; follows the cochlea in its spiraling course
Term
organ of Corti
Definition
the sensory epithelium of the cochlea that rests on the basilar membrane
Term
vestibular membrane
Definition
a thin membrane that forms the upper wall of the cochlear duct
Term
vascular stria
Definition
a specialized, stratified epithelium that forms the third, lateral (outer) wall of the cochlear duct which lies on the bony wall of the canal
Term
Are there capillaries among the epithelial cells of the cochlea?
Definition
yes!
Term
The canal situated below the basilar membrane is the _____; the one above the vestibular membrane is the _____
Definition
scala tympani; scala vestibuli
Term
What is the difference between the oval window & the round window?
Definition
oval: situated at the end of the scala vestibuli
round: at the end of the scala tympani
Term
2 places where the conduction of sound waves from the air to the receptor cells in the cochlea occurs through
Definition
1. external ear
2. tympanic cavity (middle ear)
Term
Sound waves hit the _____ located at the bottom of the external meatus

*AKA eardrum
Definition
tympanic membrane
Term
The eardrum consists of a thin, tense connective tissue membrane covered by a thin layer of epithelium on both sides; it is richly supplied with _____, like the tight skin of the inner part of the external meatus
Definition
nociceptors
Term
ossicles
Definition
a set of 3 structures that form a chain through the middle ear & connect the eardrum with the oval window
Term
The _____ has a shaft that is attached to the inner side of the eardrum
Definition
malleus
Term
The head of the malleus connects to the _____ by a joint, & that part is further connected to the _____ by a joint
Definition
incus; stapes
Term
Normally, even the slightest movement of the eardrum is sufficient to cause stimulation of the receptors in the cochlea: sound waves with an amplitude of only _____ nm suffice to produce the weakest perceptible sound with the frequency to which the ear is most sensitive
Definition
0.01
Term
Eustachian tube
Definition
connects the middle ear cavity with the pharynx
Term
2 things that form the 2 populations of receptor cells along the basilar membrane
Definition
1. outer hair cells
2. inner hair cells
Term
What kind of cells surround the hair cells?
Definition
supporting cells
Term
pillar cells
Definition
two rows of especially large supporting cells that separate the inner & outer hair cells & form the tunnel of Corti
Term
tectorial membrane
Definition
a thick plate that lies above the hair cells & is indirectly attached to the bony wall of the cochlea
Term
modiolus
Definition
the midportion of the cochlea close to which the bony spiral lamina is located which houses the cell bodies of the sensory neurons
Term
_____ also contact the hair cells, enabling the CNS to control the sensitivity of the auditory receptors
Definition
efferent nerve fibers
Term
What is caused by movement of the basilar membrane & produces receptor potentials in both inner & outer hair cells
Definition
deflection of the stereocilia
Term
Bending of the stereocilia toward the longest cilium (hyperpolarizes or depolarizes?) it
Definition
depolarizes it (the opposite movement hyperpolarizes it)
Term
What does the depolarization of the stereocilia produce?
Definition
a graded receptor potential
Term
Depolarization of the hair cell is most likely caused by opening of _____ near the tip of the stereocilia
Definition
mechanosensitive ion channels
Term
tip link
Definition
a thin protein thread by which the stereocilia are interconnected near their tips
Term
Depolarization leads to the release of _____ from the basal part of the inner hair cells
Definition
glutamate
Term
Are there mechanisms intrinsic to the cochlea that can amplify the vibrations of the basilar membrane almost 100 times?
Definition
yes!
Term
How do outer hair cells work as the motors of amplification?
Definition
they can rapidly transmit mechanical energy to a very narrow strip of the basilar membrane
Term
What kind of activity is initiated by the receptor potential?

(hint: it changes the form of the cell)
Definition
contractile activity
Term
The efferent fibers ending on the outer hair cells release _____ that hyperpolarizes the cells by binding to muscarine receptors
Definition
ACh
Term
The ordered arrangement of neurons & nerve fibers signaling different pitches of sound is called _____ localization
Definition
tonotopic
Term
Are tones with the highest or lowest pitch registered by the hair cells closes to the oval window?
Definition
highest pitch (lowest frequencies are registered at the top of the cochlea due to the tonotopic localization)
Term
resonance theory
Definition
each position along the basilar membrane corresponds to a certain frequency (Helmholtz's theory)
Term
cochlear nerve
Definition
the part of the 8th cranial nerve conducting signals from the cochlea
Term
spiral ganglion
Definition
where most of the fibers of the cochlear nerve (most of which are afferent) have their cell bodies; located in the bony spiral lamina
Term
2 cochlear nuclei that are located laterally on the medulla into which the cochlear nerve enters
Definition
1. ventral
2. dorsal
Term
superior olivary complex
Definition
where the efferent fibers of the cochlear nerve arise; located in the rostral part of the medulla
Term
lateral lemniscus
Definition
the pathway formed by the ascending fibers from the cochlear nuclei
Term
inferior collicular brachium
Definition
an oblong elevation at the dorsal side of the mesencephalon formed by the efferent fibers of the cochlear nuclei
Term
Neurons in the inferior colliculus respond specifically to sound from a certain direction, & the inferior colliculus probably contains a map of our _____
Definition
auditory space
Term
olivocochlear bundle
Definition
formed from efferent fibers in the cochlear nerve that end in contact primarily with the outer hair cells of the cochlea & come from the superior olivary complex
Term
2 transmitters used by the many inhibitory interneurons in the nuclei of the auditory pathways
Definition
1. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
2. glycine
Term
Why is selective suppression of auditory information necessary?
Definition
we need to be able to select the relevant sounds among numerous irrelevant ones
Term
Are auditory neurons inhibited during vocalization?
Definition
yes!
Term
The reticular formation receives collaterals from the ascending auditory pathways, & such connections mediate _____
Definition
the sudden muscle activity provoked by a strong, unexpected sound (a startle response)
Term
Paresis of what nerve often is accompanies by hypersensitivity to sounds (hyperacusis)?
Definition
facial nerve
Term
Are there reflex arcs that mediate autonomic movements of the head & eyes & even the body in the direction of an unexpected sound?
Definition
yes!
Term
2 places where the centers for movements of the head & eyes in response to an unexpected sound are located
Definition
1. inferior colliculus
2. superior colliculus
Term
What takes place in the superior colliculus?
Definition
integration of auditory, visual, & somatosensory information so that the final motor response is appropriate for the organism as a whole
Term
temporal plane
Definition
a region on the upper face of the temporal lobe where AI is situated
Term
Do all neurons in AI depict simple, physical features of sounds?
Definition
no! (some have surprisingly complex properties)
Term
Can the response of many neurons depend on the context of a stimulus?
Definition
yes!
Term
Does the object with which a sound is associated modulate the activity of many AI neurons?
Definition
yes!
Term
Where does the auditory belt receive its main afferents from?
Definition
AI
Term
Do many neurons appear to respond best to species-specific sounds?
Definition
yes!
Term
Do different subregions of the auditory belt deal with the "what" (the frequency composition of the sound) & "where" (the localization in the space of the sound source)?
Definition
yes!
Term
2 divisions in the frontal lobe for the "what" & the "where" of sounds
Definition
"what" = ventral
"where" = dorsal
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