SPLH 620 STUDY EXAM GUIDE 2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔function of outer ear - ✔✔transmit sound vibrations from the pinna to the tympanic
membrane
✔✔function of middle ear - ✔✔amplification of sound
acoustic --> mechanical
✔✔function of inner ear - ✔✔-transforms sound
-mechanical --> chemoelectrical
-represents sound frequencies
✔✔3 chambers of cochlea - ✔✔1. scala vestibuli
2. scala media
3. scala tympani
✔✔scala vestibuli - ✔✔-leads from oval window to the apex of the cochlea
-filled with perilymph
✔✔scala tympani - ✔✔-extends from apex of cochlea to round window
-filled with perilymph
✔✔scala media - ✔✔Middle chamber of the cochlea
-filled with endolymph
✔✔scala vestibuli - ✔✔
✔✔scala tympani - ✔✔
✔✔scala media - ✔✔
✔✔the movement of the ___________ starts the movement of the scala
________________. - ✔✔stapes ; scala vestibule
✔✔organ of corti - ✔✔sensory organ of hearing
-composed of hair cells
-energy from the cochlea causes the basilar membrane to vibrate... bending the hair
cells... & generate AP
✔✔organ of corti contains - ✔✔hair cells and tectorial membrane
✔✔organ of corti - ✔✔
, ✔✔hair cells - ✔✔receptor cells for hearing found in the cochlea
✔✔# of inner hair cells - ✔✔3,500
✔✔# of outer hair cells - ✔✔15,000
✔✔90-95% of all cochlear nerve fibers receive input from which hair cells? - ✔✔inner
hair cells (IHC)
✔✔Inner Hair Cells (IHC) - ✔✔-sensory function: send information to brain
✔✔Outer Hair Cells (OHC) - ✔✔-cochlear amplifier: amplify the IHC signal by moving
the basilar membrane
-send 'some' information to the brain
✔✔tectorial membrane - ✔✔
✔✔tonotopic map - ✔✔representation in the auditory cortex of different sound
frequencies
-high frequencies @ base of basilar membrane
-low frequencies @ apex of basilar membrane
✔✔high frequencies are found @ the ______________ of the basilar membrane -
✔✔base
✔✔low frequencies are found @ the ______________ of the basilar membrane -
✔✔apex
✔✔tonotopic map - ✔✔
✔✔depolarization of hair cells - ✔✔-bend to largest cilia
-K+ channels open & K+ enters the cell...
-increasing the receptor potential
-turning into/generating AP @ auditory nerve
-Ca++ channels open & Ca++ enters the cell too..
-a release of NT's to the afferent nerve then travel up to the brain
✔✔when a hair cell depolarizes what ions enter the cell? - ✔✔K+ & Ca++ enter the cell
✔✔depolarization hair cell - ✔✔
✔✔hyperpolarization of hair cell - ✔✔-cilia bends to smallest
-decrease in receptor potential
ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔function of outer ear - ✔✔transmit sound vibrations from the pinna to the tympanic
membrane
✔✔function of middle ear - ✔✔amplification of sound
acoustic --> mechanical
✔✔function of inner ear - ✔✔-transforms sound
-mechanical --> chemoelectrical
-represents sound frequencies
✔✔3 chambers of cochlea - ✔✔1. scala vestibuli
2. scala media
3. scala tympani
✔✔scala vestibuli - ✔✔-leads from oval window to the apex of the cochlea
-filled with perilymph
✔✔scala tympani - ✔✔-extends from apex of cochlea to round window
-filled with perilymph
✔✔scala media - ✔✔Middle chamber of the cochlea
-filled with endolymph
✔✔scala vestibuli - ✔✔
✔✔scala tympani - ✔✔
✔✔scala media - ✔✔
✔✔the movement of the ___________ starts the movement of the scala
________________. - ✔✔stapes ; scala vestibule
✔✔organ of corti - ✔✔sensory organ of hearing
-composed of hair cells
-energy from the cochlea causes the basilar membrane to vibrate... bending the hair
cells... & generate AP
✔✔organ of corti contains - ✔✔hair cells and tectorial membrane
✔✔organ of corti - ✔✔
, ✔✔hair cells - ✔✔receptor cells for hearing found in the cochlea
✔✔# of inner hair cells - ✔✔3,500
✔✔# of outer hair cells - ✔✔15,000
✔✔90-95% of all cochlear nerve fibers receive input from which hair cells? - ✔✔inner
hair cells (IHC)
✔✔Inner Hair Cells (IHC) - ✔✔-sensory function: send information to brain
✔✔Outer Hair Cells (OHC) - ✔✔-cochlear amplifier: amplify the IHC signal by moving
the basilar membrane
-send 'some' information to the brain
✔✔tectorial membrane - ✔✔
✔✔tonotopic map - ✔✔representation in the auditory cortex of different sound
frequencies
-high frequencies @ base of basilar membrane
-low frequencies @ apex of basilar membrane
✔✔high frequencies are found @ the ______________ of the basilar membrane -
✔✔base
✔✔low frequencies are found @ the ______________ of the basilar membrane -
✔✔apex
✔✔tonotopic map - ✔✔
✔✔depolarization of hair cells - ✔✔-bend to largest cilia
-K+ channels open & K+ enters the cell...
-increasing the receptor potential
-turning into/generating AP @ auditory nerve
-Ca++ channels open & Ca++ enters the cell too..
-a release of NT's to the afferent nerve then travel up to the brain
✔✔when a hair cell depolarizes what ions enter the cell? - ✔✔K+ & Ca++ enter the cell
✔✔depolarization hair cell - ✔✔
✔✔hyperpolarization of hair cell - ✔✔-cilia bends to smallest
-decrease in receptor potential
