Option I Medical Physics I1 The Ear and hearing

1a The structure of the ear -the ear is split into three sections, the outer, middle and inner ear. outer ear pinna malleus auditory canal semicircular canals inner ear auditory nerve

cochlea oval window

eardrum incus middle ear outer

stapes Eustachian tube

-the outer ear consists of the pinna, the external sound collecting cone. -this is the external part we can see. -next is the auditory canal down which the sound waves are channelled. -the sound reaches the eardrum, a thin membrane that vibrates with the sound. middle -the middle ear contains a small air cavity about 1.5-2.5cm3 in volume. -connected to the eardrum is a series of three bones, the ossicles. -the three bones are the hammer (malleus), the anvil (incus) and the stirrup (stapes). -the ossicles act as a lever system increasing the small movement of the eardrum. -the middle ear is connected to the throat via the Eustachian tube. -this tube allows the pressure each side of the eardrum to balance out. -e.g. when in a plane, ears get blocked as the pressure behind the eardrum stays normal while the outside pressure drops in the plane. Due to the extra pressure inside, air is forced down the Eustachian tube leading to the ear popping sensation, which is helped by jaw motion through sucking boiled sweets. inner -the inner ear is stars with the oval window, to which the other end of ossicles lever system is attached. -the entrance cavity is called the vestibule and is filled with a fluid, surrounded by bone. -the semicircular canals in the inner ear are for balance not hearing. -the entrance cavity leads to the cochlea, a coiled tube of 2-3 turns. Key points -the ear has three parts, outer, middle and inner ear. -the pinna and auditory canal make the outer ear. -the eardrum and ossicles make the middle ear. -the oval window cochlea and basilar membrane make the inner ear.

1b Operation of the ear -the pinna collects the sound which is channelled down the auditory canal. -this causes the eardrum to vibrate: the movement is magnified by the ossicles: a bone lever system, the malleus, incus and stapes. -the ossicles are attached to the oval membrane and the cochlea into which the vibrations are sent. -the cochlea distinguishes between the frequencies present. -inside the cochlea is the basilar membrane which extends its whole length. -the stiffness of the membrane decreases along its length. -from wave study the stiffer a material, the faster the wave speed. -consider sending a wave down the length of a stretched slinky and. -the greater the tension in the slinky, the faster the wave. -the basilar membrane relies on resonance. -resonance occurs when a driving frequency is close to the natural frequency of an object and it starts to vibrate. -different parts of the membrane resonate with different frequencies. -the brain identifies the frequency by determining which part of the membrane resonates. -the further along the membrane that resonates, the lower the frequency. Key points -the pinna collects the sound and sends it down the auditory canal to the eardrum. -the ossicles magnify the eardrum vibrations sending them to the cochlea. -the basilar membrane inside the cochlea separates frequencies. -the auditory nerve sends the signal to the brain. 1c Range of human hearing -the range of human hearing is from 20Hz to 20kHz. -the higher frequency end reduces with age: 25kHz in the teens to 15kHz in old age. Task 1: the frequency doubles for each octave so this covers how many octaves? Middle C is 256Hz. How many octaves above middle C can a normal human hear? How many octaves below? Key points: the range of human hearing is 20 - 20kHz. 1d Sound intensity -sound intensity (I) is the sound energy per second per unit area. -it is measured in joules/sec/metre (Js-1m-2) or Wm-2. -the larger the amplitude of the sound waves the greater the intensity. -intensity I, increases with the square of the amplitude A (I A). -so if the amplitude is doubled, the intensity increases by four. -if the amplitude trebles, the intensity is nine times greater. Key points: sound intensity is energy per second per unit area. 1e The response of the ear -the human ear does not have a linear response to loudness. -it follows a logarithmic relationship, by sensing equal fractional increases. -the eye is the same in sensing fractional increases in brightness.

1f Intensity and intensity level -intensity I has units of Watts pr square metre Wm -I0, the minimum intensity that humans can hear, is called the threshold intensity. -it has a value of 1 x 10-12 Wm-2. -if I, is the intensity at some other level, then B, the intensity level is B = 10 log (I/I0) -this is the decibel scale of sound intensity level dB. -a change in 10 decibel units means a factor 10 change in loudness. - 20dB means a factor 10 x 10 or 10 = 100 times change in loudness. -another unit is the bell B where one bell = 10dB. -threshold hearing is taken as 0dB. Task 1 ans: ten. Six octaves above (16kHz) three octaves 1g Discomfort level below (32hz) . -if sound is above a certain intensity it will cause discomfort. -if sound levels increase slowly enough a damping mechanism comes into operation to avoid discomfort or damage. -you might have noticed that if the radio or TV has been on a high volume and you reduce the loudness, then it sounds quiet for a short while, but after a minute or so, it appears to have become louder. This is the effect of the damping mechanism being removed when the intensity level drops. -if the sound increases in intensity suddenly, such as in an explosion, the damping is too slow to respond so the ear can be damaged. -above a certain level, even with damping the ear can be damaged. -this starts to occur with discomfort above 110dB, temporary damage at 120dB then permanent damage at 130dB. Such loud noises will come from jet aircraft at close range, or pneumatic drills or even some rock concerts! Key points-discomfort, then damage occurs around 120-130dB.
-2

Task 2: label the diagram of the ear, then check back and compare with the original.