LING 1200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 41: Basilar Membrane, Oval Window, Middle Ear
13 May 2017
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Document Summary
Shaped to collect sound waves and send them toward the middle ear. Unique way of tunneling sounds into auditory canal. Sound waves vibrate the eardrum at the same amplitude and frequency, which then vibrates three bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) Stirrup vibrates the oval window of the inner ear. Organ of corti runs along the length of the cochlea. Contains hair cells (cilia) that sit on top of the basilar membrane. Stirrup tapping on the oval window sends waves of fluid in the cochlea, causing the basilar membrane to move, effecting movement of the hair cells. The effect of the basilar membrane on hair cells depends on the frequency of the sound waves entering the ear. Hair cells press against a membrane initiating signals about sounds frequency and amplitude to be sent to the brain via the auditory nerve. As you go along basilar membrane, it changes in frequency. Way it peaks determines the hair cells that fire the most.
