Concept explainers
To review:
The auditory pathway to the cerebral cortex.
Introduction:
The ear contains mainly three parts, external ear, middle ear, and the internal ear. The ear consists of the pinna and the external acoustic meatus. The pinna collects the sound waves and sends it to the external acoustic meatus. From the various parts of the ear, the sound wave transmits to the auditory center, which lies in the cerebral cortex of the brain.
The cochlear hair cell receptors transmit auditory information to the cerebral cortex through the ascending auditory pathway. In the first step, impulses reach the cochlear nuclei in the medulla via the cochlear nerve. Then, it reaches the junction of the medulla and pons where superior olivary nuclei is present. It further ascends to the inferior colliculus through lateral lemniscus.
From the inferior colliculus, the auditory information reaches to the medial geniculate nucleus of the thalamus. Finally, conscious awareness of sound is generated when it reaches the primary auditory cortex by projecting axons of the thalamic neurons. Impulses from both ears reach each primary auditory cortex separately.
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Human Anatomy
- Explain the physiology of hearingarrow_forwardDescribe the structure of the ear, focusing on the role that each component plays in transmitting the vibrations that enter the outer ear to the auditory receptors in the inner ear. Please include references.arrow_forwardDefine and describe decussation and indicate the first level within the Central Auditory Nervous System that decussation occurs.arrow_forward
- Describe the path sound takes as it moves through the ear from the external auditory canal to the movement of a hair cell in the cochlea.arrow_forwardTrace the path taken by sound waves through the structures of the ear and explain how the organ of Corti functions as an auditory receptor.arrow_forwardDescribe the progress of a sound wave until it isidentified in the brain.arrow_forward
- Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems (MindTap ...BiologyISBN:9781285866932Author:Lauralee SherwoodPublisher:Cengage Learning