Across

1

Soft area of tissue at base of the tympanic canal that releases excess pressure remaining from extremely intense sounds. (5,6)

7

Hairlike extensions on tips of hair cells that initiate the release of neurotransmitters when they are flexed. (11)

9

Used when hearing loss is severe, it compensates for damaged or nonworking parts of the inner ear (8,8)

11

Three tiny bones of the middle ear (8)

12

Neuron that carries sensory information to the central nervous system. (8,5)

13

Third ossicle; connected to the incus on one end, the stapes presses against the oval window of the cochlea on the other end. (6)

15

Muscle attached to the stapes in the cochlea; tensing the stapedius decreases vibration. (9)

16

First brain stem nucleus where afferent auditory nerve fibers synapse. (8,7)

18

The first ossicle; the malleus receives vibration from the tympanic membrane & is attached to the incus. (7)

21

amplifies sound; does not restore hearing (7,3)

24

The middle ossicle; the connection between malleus & stapes. (5)

26

(_______) or nerve damage to middle ear is referred to ENT specialist (4)

27

Inflammation of middle ear, mostly in child as result of infection. (6,5)

28

Part of the thalamus that relays auditory signals to the temporal cortex & also receives input from the auditory cortex. (6,10,7)

29

The eardrum; a thin sheet of skin at the end of the outer ear canal. The tympanic membrane vibrates in response to sound. (8,8)

30

Air-filled chamber containing the middle bones or ossicles. The middle ear conveys & amplifies vibration from the tympanic membrane to the oval window. (6,3)

31

Fluid-filled passage that extends from the round window at the base of the cochlea to the helicotrema at the apex. (8,5)

Down

2

Infection of the ear canal that causes it to swell (6,7)

3

Region of cortex lateral & adjacent to the belt area where neurons respond to more complex characteristics of sounds, as well as to input from other senses. (8,4)

4

Outer, funnel-like part of the ear. (6)

5

Thin sheath of tissue separating the vestibular & middle canals. (8,1,8)

6

Reflex that protects the ear from intense sounds, via contraction of the stapedius & tensor tympani muscles. (8,6)

8

A midbrain nucleus in the auditory pathway. (8,10)

10

Neuron that carries information from the central nervous system to the periphery. (8,5)

14

The combined basilar membrane, tectorial membrane, & organ of Corti, which are together responsible for the transduction of sound waves into neural signals. (8,9)

17

Tympanic & vestibular canals, containing the cochlear partition. (6,5)

19

Structure on the basilar membrane composed of hair cells & dendrites of auditory nerve fibers. (5,2,5)

20

Flexible opening to cochlea thru which stapes transmits vibration to fluid inside. (4,6)

22

The canal that conducts sound vibrations from the pinna to the tympanic membrane & prevents damage to the tympanic membrane. (3,5)

23

Tumor in the auditory nerve. Usually associated with ringing in the ears. (8,7)

25

External sound-gathering portion of ear, consist of pinna & ear canal. (5,3)

26

Pressure trauma or ear squeeze. Usually in divers (10)