Deck 9: The Auditory System

Question 1

The figure below represents the sound wave for a pure tone. At 90°, there is:

A) high atmospheric pressure and a high density of air molecules
B) high atmospheric pressure and a low density of air molecules
C) low atmospheric pressure and a high density of air molecules
D) low atmospheric pressure and a low density of air Molecules

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following statements about pure tones is FALSE?

A) they can be represented with a simple sine wave
B) they can be created in the laboratory
C) they are common in everyday life
D) both B and C

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a physical property of sound waves?

A) frequency
B) phase angle
C) wavelength
D) amplitude

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Frequency refers to:

A) the maximum pressure change from normal
B) the number of cycles that a sound wave completes in 1 second
C) the time it takes for the sound wave to dissipate
D) the time it takes for the wave to complete a cycle

Question 5

Which of the following perceptual characteristics of sound is associated with the physical property of frequency?

A) phase angle
B) pitch
C) loudness
D) purity

Question 6

Which of the following statements about frequency is FALSE?

A) Older adults have more difficulty hearing high frequency tones than young adults.
B) We can detect tonal differences between frequencies that differ by only 2 Hz.
C) The typical range of tones we can hear is between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz.
D) Humans are most sensitive to tones between 10,000 Hz and 20,000 Hz.

Question 7

Which of the following physical characteristics of sound is associated with perceived loudness?

A) phase angle
B) frequency
C) wavelength
D) amplitude

Question 8

If Sound Wave A and Sound Wave B have the same frequency and phase angle, but the peak amplitude of Sound Wave A is higher than that of Sound Wave B:

A) Wave A will sound higher pitched than Wave B
B) Wave B will sound higher pitched than Wave A
C) Wave A will sound louder than Wave B
D) Wave B will sound louder than Wave A

Question 9

Which of the following statements about amplitude is FALSE?

A) It can be measured in either dynes/cm² or in decibels.
B) High-amplitude sound waves move your eardrum more than low-amplitude sound waves.
C) We can detect amplitude differences in pure tones that differ by only 2 dB.
D) A sound at 120 dB is twice as loud as a sound at 60 dB.

Question 10

If Sound Wave A and Sound Wave B have the same frequency and amplitude but are perfectly out of phase:

A) the two waves will produce a rich sound
B) Wave A will sound higher pitched than Wave B
C) Wave A will sound louder than Wave B
D) you will hear nothing

Question 11

As a sound wave completes one cycle, at 180°:

A) the air pressure is normal but about to increase
B) the air pressure is normal but about to decrease
C) the wave has reached the maximum pressure
D) the wave has reached the minimum pressure

Question 12

Which of the following structures is NOT part of the outer ear?

A) oval window
B) external auditory canal
C) pinna
D) tympanic membrane

Question 13

The transduction of sound waves to neural energy takes place in the:

A) outer ear
B) middle ear
C) inner ear
D) auditory cortex

Question 14

The pinnae are responsible for:

A) equalizing the air pressure in the auditory system
B) moving the bones of the middle ear
C) increasing the amplitude of sounds
D) reducing the effects of impedance mismatch

Question 15

Below is a figure displaying the anatomy of the ear.
-Which part is the eustachean tube?

A) D
B) E
C) H
D) K

Question 16

Below is a figure displaying the anatomy of the ear.
-Where is the oval window?

A) F
B) G
C) I
D) J

Question 17

Below is a figure displaying the anatomy of the ear.
-Where is the auditory nerve?

A) D
B) E
C) H
D) I

Question 18

Below is a figure displaying the anatomy of the ear.
-What is represented at letter A?

A) the stapes
B) the cochlea
C) the incus
D) the malleus

Question 19

Below is a figure displaying the anatomy of the ear.
-What is represented at letter C?

A) the stapes
B) the cochlea
C) the round window
D) the incus

Question 20

Below is a figure displaying the anatomy of the ear.
-What is represented at letter E?

A) the malleus
B) the auditory nerve
C) the round window
D) the eardrum

Question 21

Below is a figure displaying the anatomy of the ear.
-What is represented at letter K?

A) the eustachean tube
B) the eardrum
C) the cochlea
D) the external auditory canal

Question 22

Below is a figure displaying the anatomy of the ear.
-In which part are the receptors for auditory stimuli found?

A) A
B) D
C) F
D) J

Question 23

The effects of the impedance mismatch between air pressure and the fluids of the inner ear are primarily reduced by the:

A) hair cells
B) cochlea
C) organ of Corti
D) ossicles

Question 24

The semicircular canals are part of the:

A) outer ear
B) middle ear
C) inner ear
D) auditory cortex

Question 25

The membrane that covers an opening in the cochlea is called the:

A) A. oval window
B) round window
C) basilar membrane
D) tectorial membrane

Question 26

Fluid flows from the vestibular canal into the tympanic canal via the:

A) helicotrema
B) cochlear duct
C) round window
D) oval window

Question 27

Below is a figure showing the structures of the inner ear.
-Where is the basilar membrane?

A) A
B) C
C) E
D) H

Question 28

Below is a figure showing the structures of the inner ear.
-What is located at letter F?

A) the tympanic canal
B) the cochlear duct
C) the vestibular canal
D) the helicotrema

Question 29

Below is a figure showing the structures of the inner ear.
-What is located at letter G?

A) the tympanic canal
B) the cochlear duct
C) the vestibular canal
D) the helicotrema

Question 30

Below is a figure showing the structures of the inner ear.
-Letter A represents the __________________ while Letter H represents the __________________.

A) basilar membrane; tectorial membrane
B) tectorial membrane; basilar membrane
C) round window; oval window
D) oval window; round window

Question 31

Below is a figure showing the structures of the inner ear.
-Where is Reisnner's membrane?

A) A
B) C
C) E
D) H

Question 32

Fluid in the inner ear flows from the:

A) round window Æ vestibular canal Æ helicotrema Æ tympanic canal
B) tympanic canal Æ helicotrema Æ vestibular canal Æ round window
C) round window Æ tympanic canal Æ vestibular canal Æ helicotrema
D) vestibular canal Æ helicotrema Æ tympanic canal Æ round Window

Question 33

Which of the following statements about the cochlear duct is FALSE?

A) It is the smallest of the three canals in the cochlea.
B) It contains a different type of fluid than the other canals.
C) It houses the auditory receptors.
D) It is separated from the vestibular canal by the basilar membrane.

Question 34

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A) Higher frequency sounds peak near the stapes while lower frequency sounds peak near the helicotrema.
B) Higher frequency sounds peak near the helicotrema while lower frequency sounds peak near the stapes.
C) Higher frequency sounds peak along the basilar membrane while lower frequency sounds peak along Reissner's membrane.
D) Higher frequency sounds peak along Reissner's membrane while lower frequency sounds peak along the basilar membrane.

Question 35

In the visual system, the receptors are the rods and cones which are located on the retina. In the auditory system, the receptors are the __________________ which are located on the __________________.

A) ossicles; cochlea
B) stereocilia; oval window
C) tip links; round window
D) hair cells; organ of Corti

Question 36

Which of the following statements about hair cells is TRUE?

A) There are significantly more inner hair cells than outer hair cells.
B) Inner hair cells are arranged in a single row while outer hair cells fall along multiple rows.
C) Inner and outer hair cells are both located on the eardrum.
D) both A and B

Question 37

Nerve fibers that carry information from lower-level brain structures to higher-level brain structures are __________________. Nerve fibers that carry information from higher-
level brain structures to lower-level brain structures are __________________.

A) efferent fibers; afferent fibers
B) afferent fibers; efferent fibers
C) ebberent fibers; abberent fibers
D) abberent fibers; ebberent fibers

Question 38

The auditory nerve contains:

A) more afferent fibers than efferent fibers
B) more efferent fibers than afferent fibers
C) an equal number of afferent and efferent fibers
D) no afferent or efferent fibers

Question 39

Inner hair cells receive _____________________. Outer hair cells receive _____________________.

A) only afferent input; only efferent input
B) only efferent input; only afferent input
C) both afferent and efferent input; only afferent input
D) only afferent input; both afferent and efferent input

Question 40

When the stereocilia are displaced toward the outer part of the cochlea, the hair cells become __________________ which __________________.

A) hyperpolarized; inhibits the firing of the afferent bipolar cells
B) hyperpolarized; excites the afferent bipolar cells
C) depolarized; inhibits the firing of the afferent bipolar cells
D) depolarized; excites the afferent bipolar cells

Question 41

We can perceive sound when the stereocilia move at least:

A) .3 nm
B) .5 nm
C) 30 nm
D) 50 nm

Question 42

Outer hair cells serve the important function of:

A) equalizing the air pressure in the auditory system
B) amplifying the sound wave along the basilar membrane
C) moving the bones of the middle ear
D) transducing the sounds into neural impulses

Question 43

Which of the following describes the path of information in the auditory system as it leaves the inner ear?

A) cochlear nucleus Æ medial geniculate nucleus Æ superior olivary nucleus Æ inferior colliculus Æ auditory cortex
B) inferior colliculus Æ cochlear nucleus Æ medial geniculate nucleus Æ superior olivary nucleus Æ auditory cortex
C) cochlear nucleus Æ superior olivary nucleus Æ inferior colliculus Æ medial geniculate nucleus Æ auditory cortex
D) medial geniculate nucleus Æ inferior colliculus Æ cochlear nucleus Æ superior olivary nucleus Æ auditory cortex

Question 44

The right cochlear nucleus receives information from:

A) only the right ear
B) only the left ear
C) both the right ear and the left ear
D) the superior olivary nucleus

Question 45

Auditory information becomes binaural once it reaches the:

A) inferior colliculus
B) superior olivary nucleus
C) medial geniculate nucleus
D) cochlear nucleus

Question 46

Many structures in the auditory system are arranged according to a tonotopic organization. This means that:

A) information from both ears is processed and compared.
B) auditory nerve fibers are particularly sensitive to specific degrees of loudness.
C) auditory information from the left ear travels to the right hemisphere and vice versa.
D) neurons that are sensitive to similar frequencies are located near one another.

Question 47

Profound hearing loss is defined as a deficit of __________ or more.

A) 10 dB
B) 30 dB
C) 60 dB
D) 90 dB

Question 48

Which of the patients below most likely has presbycusis?

A) George, who has difficulty hearing his grandchildren playing at his 70^th birthday party.
B) Kyle, a young child who experiences severe pain in his left ear.
C) Ryan, who has had difficulty hearing ever since his bad fall while waterskiing.
D) Cameron, who reports a slight but constant ringing in his ears.

Question 49

For the past two years, Howard has experienced a ringing in his ears which has become quite frustrating. He likely has:

A) tinnitus
B) presbycusis
C) sensorineural hearing loss
D) conductive hearing loss

Question 50

Ear infections occur when:

A) the stereocilia have been destroyed
B) the tympanic membrane is damaged
C) the eustachian tube becomes swollen
D) the ossicles become immobilized

Question 51

Which of the following is NOT a type of conductive hearing loss?

A) an ear infection
B) tinnitus
C) a punctured eardrum
D) otosclerosis

Question 52

While sensorineural hearing loss involves problems in the __________________, conductive hearing loss involves problems in the __________________.

A) outer ear; inner ear
B) inner ear; middle ear
C) outer ear; middle ear
D) middle ear; inner ear

Question 53

Conductive hearing loss affects __________________. Sensorineural hearing loss affects __________________.

A) all frequencies similarly; all frequencies similarly
B) only certain frequencies; only certain frequencies
C) all frequencies similarly; only certain frequencies
D) only certain frequencies; all frequencies similarly

Question 54

A fireman enters a building where a fire alarm is sounding. After 5 minutes, the fireman reports that the alarm doesn't sound as loud as it first did. This is due to:

A) tinnitus
B) recruitment
C) auditory adaptation
D) auditory fatigue

Question 55

Right after attending a loud rock concert, Daniela finds it difficult to hear the radio in the car on the way home. The next day on the way to work, she is able to hear the radio just fine. Her hearing difficulty was due to:

A) auditory adaptation
B) auditory fatigue
C) a temporary threshold shift
D) both B and C

Question 56

Which of the following situations can lead to a permanent threshold shift? (p. 262)

A) attending loud rock concerts off and on
B) standing near an explosion
C) listening to a loud iPod for an extended duration of time
D) all of the above

Question 57

Recruitment is a hearing disorder in which a person:

A) has trouble hearing low-frequency tones but perceives high-frequency tones normally.
B) has trouble hearing high-frequency tones but perceives low-frequency tones normally.
C) has trouble hearing soft tones but perceives loud tones normally.
D) has trouble hearing loud tones but perceives soft tones normally.

Question 58

Which of the following statements about hearing aids is FALSE?

A) Hearing aids work more effectively in patients with sensorineural hearing loss than those with conductive
hearing loss.
B) Recruitment makes the task of designing hearing aids quite difficult.
C) Hearing aids increase the intensity of the sounds.
D) The combination of a hearing aid in one ear and a cochlear implant in the other ear is more effective than a cochlear implant alone.

Question 59

Which of the following statements about cochlear implants is FALSE?

A) Cochlear implants are expensive, but are completely successful in restoring hearing.
B) Current cochlear implants require the auditory nerve be intact.
C) Cochlear implants work by stimulating the appropriate afferent neurons.
D) Cochlear implants are primarily used in patients with sensorineural hearing loss.'