Question

Put the following items in order from the flow of sound waves to the production of action potential to the destination in the brain.

auditory association area

auricle

basilar membrane

cochlea

cochlear branch of CN VIII

external acoustic meatus

incus

inner hair cell

malleus

oval window

primary auditory cortex

scala vestibuli

stapes

synapse in inferior colliculus

synapse in medulla oblongata

synapse in thalamus

tympanic membrane

Answer 1

Sound waves following pathway to reach the nerve and generate an action potential for impulse transmission.

Auricle --> external acoustic meatus --> tympanic membrane --> malleus --> incus --> stapes --> oval window --> Cochlea --> Scala vestibuli --> basilar membrane --> inner hair cells --> cochlear branch of VIII nerve --> synapse in inferior colliculus --> synapse in thalamus --> primary auditory cortex and auditory association area.

Auricle collects the sound waves and sends it to middle ear via external auditory canal and vibrating tympanic membrane which transmits this vibrations to the ear ossicles and further to the oval window. These vibrations are carried further into the cochlear duct and hits thebl basilar membrane which moves inner hair cells and generate signals detected by cochlear nerve. Cochlear nerve sends it further to the primary auditory area and auditory association area ( area 22) .