BIOL 153 Study Guide - Saccule, Tight Junction, Vestibular Duct
Document Summary
Hearing and balance basically use the same mechanism. Tympanic membrane: ear drum is the boundary between the outer ear and the inner ear. Middle ear: three small bones that articulate with each other but are not attached with other bones. they basically articulate with the ear bone and take all the vibrations from the ear drum. The last bone (smallest) connects to a membrane that is between middle and inner ear. This bone transfers the vibrations to the inner ear. Middle ear is filled with air because water has a lot more mass than air does. Vibrations can easily be sent via air but it would be much more difficult if it was filled with water. Mucus sometimes fills up the auditory tube causing fluid to fill up with fluid which is why it is hard to hear when you are sick. The auditory tube is connected to the phaynx where there is air coming in at po.
