Ear & Auditory
Pathway
From the ear to the brain cortex, sound signals are transmitted and processed
by the auditory neural pathway in the central nervous system (CNS). Here,
let’s learn the sequential steps through which the auditory information is
passed to the cortex of the brain.
Table of Contents
Auditory Pathway
Physiology of Hearing
Auditory Pathway Steps
Auditory Pathway
The auditory pathway is primarily located in the midbrain, medulla oblongata
and thalamic region. The primary receptors for hearing are located in the
cochlea. The cochlea is filled with ear fluids, namely perilymph and
endolymph. The auditory pathway fibres pass through the cochlear division of
the vestibulocochlear nerve, also called the auditory nerve.
Auditory Receptors – The temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex houses the
higher centre for hearing, where the auditory pathway’s fibres finally come to
an end. The auditory sense is processed by hair cells in the organ of Corti.
Inner and outer hair cells are two different types of hair cells. Afferent and
efferent nerve fibres innervate each and every hair cell. The auditory nerve is
made up of afferent nerve fibres from the hair cells.
Physiology of Hearing
, Sound waves pass through the external auditory meatus and cause the
tympanic membrane to vibrate. The stapes move as a result of tympanic
membrane vibrations that pass through the malleus and incus on their way
to the stapes. The fluids in the cochlea vibrate as a result of stapes
movements. In the organ of Corti, these vibrations activate the hair cells. As a
result, the auditory nerve fibres begin to produce auditory impulses or action
potentials.
Hearing is perceived when auditory impulses enter the cerebral cortex. The
ear transforms the energy of sound waves into action potentials in the
auditory nerve fibres during the hearing process. This process is also termed
sound transduction. The organ of Corti contains the sound transduction site.
Pathway
From the ear to the brain cortex, sound signals are transmitted and processed
by the auditory neural pathway in the central nervous system (CNS). Here,
let’s learn the sequential steps through which the auditory information is
passed to the cortex of the brain.
Table of Contents
Auditory Pathway
Physiology of Hearing
Auditory Pathway Steps
Auditory Pathway
The auditory pathway is primarily located in the midbrain, medulla oblongata
and thalamic region. The primary receptors for hearing are located in the
cochlea. The cochlea is filled with ear fluids, namely perilymph and
endolymph. The auditory pathway fibres pass through the cochlear division of
the vestibulocochlear nerve, also called the auditory nerve.
Auditory Receptors – The temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex houses the
higher centre for hearing, where the auditory pathway’s fibres finally come to
an end. The auditory sense is processed by hair cells in the organ of Corti.
Inner and outer hair cells are two different types of hair cells. Afferent and
efferent nerve fibres innervate each and every hair cell. The auditory nerve is
made up of afferent nerve fibres from the hair cells.
Physiology of Hearing
, Sound waves pass through the external auditory meatus and cause the
tympanic membrane to vibrate. The stapes move as a result of tympanic
membrane vibrations that pass through the malleus and incus on their way
to the stapes. The fluids in the cochlea vibrate as a result of stapes
movements. In the organ of Corti, these vibrations activate the hair cells. As a
result, the auditory nerve fibres begin to produce auditory impulses or action
potentials.
Hearing is perceived when auditory impulses enter the cerebral cortex. The
ear transforms the energy of sound waves into action potentials in the
auditory nerve fibres during the hearing process. This process is also termed
sound transduction. The organ of Corti contains the sound transduction site.
