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1. The human ear has a frequency range of approximately
a.
10 octaves.
b.
10 decibels.
c.
10 Newtons.
d.
none of the above.
ANSWER:
a
2. The outer ear can be viewed predominantly as
a.
a vestigial structure that is no longer needed.
b.
a collector of sound.
c.
a musculotendinous structure suspended by ligaments.
d.
a signal synthesizer.
ANSWER:
b
3. Because the outer ear has no “active elements,”
a.
it can serve as an amplifier but not a filter.
b.
it can serve as both filter and amplifier.
c.
it can process only passive sounds.
d.
it can serve as a filter but not an amplifier.
ANSWER:
d
4. The frequency region that is most enhanced by the outer ear is
a.
20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
b.
0.02 KHz to 20 KHz.
c.
1,500 Hz to 8,000 Hz.
d.
none of the above.
ANSWER:
c
5. The outer ear system results in a net gain of approximately how many dB at 2,000 Hz?
a.
20
b.
40
c.
60
d.
None of the above
ANSWER:
a
6. Which of the following is the formula for pressure?
a.
P = F × A
b.
P = F/A
c.
P = F/A2
d.
None of the above
ANSWER:
b
7. To increase pressure, you must
a.
increase force per unit area.
b.
decrease the area over which force is exerted.
c.
both a & b
d.
none of the above.
ANSWER:
c
8. The middle ear serves an impedance-matching function by
a.
amplifying the force per unit area.
b.
reducing the area over which the existing force is exerted.
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c.
a & b
d.
neither of the above.
ANSWER:
b
9. The tympanic membrane has an effective area of approximately
a.
55 mm2.
b.
3.2 mm2.
c.
16 mm2.
d.
85 mm2.
ANSWER:
a
10. The oval window has an effective area of approximately
a.
55 mm2.
b.
3.2 mm2.
c.
16 mm2.
d.
85 mm2.
ANSWER:
b
11. Which of the following statements is most accurate?
a.
The tympanic membrane is approximately 17 times stiffer than the oval window.
b.
The tensor tympani is approximately 17 times more flaccid than the stapedius.
c.
The oval window is approximately 17 times smaller than the tympanic membrane.
d.
None of the above.
ANSWER:
c
12. The acoustical gain arising from the area function is approximately
a.
17:1.
b.
25 dB.
c.
a & b.
d.
none of the above.
ANSWER:
c
13. The length of the manubrium malli is approximately how many times that of the long process of the stapes?
a.
1.2
b.
2.4
c.
3.6
d.
4.8
ANSWER:
a
14. Approximately how many dB of gain does the middle ear lever advantage provide to the signal?
a.
1
b.
2
c.
3
d.
4
ANSWER:
b
15. The combined area and lever advantages provide a gain of how many dB?
a.
25 dB
b.
27 dB
c.
2 dB
d.
45 dB
ANSWER:
b
16. Which of the following statements accurately reflects the function of the vestibular mechanism?
a.
The cilia of the vestibular mechanism are stimulated by the acoustic signal input to the oval window.
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b.
The lateral semicircular canal senses acceleration in the vertical dimension.
c.
As your head rotates, the fluid in the semicircular canals tends to remain in the same location.
d.
None of the above.
ANSWER:
c
17. The utricle and saccule sense
a.
the force of gravity on the body.
b.
acceleration of the head/body during movement.
c.
rotation of the head in space.
d.
none of the above.
ANSWER:
b
18. The term “spectral analysis” refers to
a.
analysis of the frequency components of sound.
b.
analysis of the timing of acoustical events.
c.
a & b
d.
none of the above.
ANSWER:
a
19. When the stapes moves medially,
a.
a wave is initially set up in the endolymph.
b.
the perilymph of the scala vestibuli receives a compression pulse.
c.
Reissner’s membrane undergoes muscular contraction.
d.
the organ of Corti vibrates at a resonant frequency equal to the whole-number multiple of the initial impulse.
ANSWER:
b
20. High-frequency sounds are processed
a.
at the helicotrema.
b.
at the apex.
c.
at the base.
d.
at the round window.
ANSWER:
c
21. Low-frequency sounds are processed
a.
at the helicotrema.
b.
at the apex.
c.
at the base.
d.
at the round window.
ANSWER:
b
22. The point of maximal perturbation of the basilar membrane arising from the traveling wave
a.
determines the temporal component of the traveling wave.
b.
determines the zona pelicula for the traveling wave.
c.
represents the frequency component determined by the umbo of the manubrium.
d.
determines the hair cells that will be maximally stimulated to fire.
ANSWER:
d
23. The basal end of the basilar membrane
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a.
is stiffer than the apical end.
b.
is made up of basal cells.
c.
responds best to low (bass) frequency sounds.
d.
none of the above.
ANSWER:
a
24. The basilar membrane
a.
is flaccid at the apex.
b.
consists primarily of otoliths.
c.
is another name for Reissner’s membrane.
d.
is conical in shape.
ANSWER:
a
25. As the mass of a vibrating body increases,
a.
frequency of vibration increases.
b.
frequency remains unchanged.
c.
frequency of vibration decreases.
d.
none of the above.
ANSWER:
c
26. The area benefit of the middle ear system refers to the relationship between the area of the ____________________
and the oval window.
ANSWER:
tympanic membrane
27. The lever benefit of the middle ear system refers to the relationship between processes of the ____________________
and the incus.
ANSWER:
malleus
28. The area benefit of the middle ear system provides an increase of about ____________________ dB.
ANSWER:
25
29. The lever benefit of the middle ear system provides an increase of about ____________________ dB.
ANSWER:
2
30. The tensor tympani muscle exerts a restraining force on the ____________________.
ANSWER:
malleus
31. The stapedius muscle exerts a restraining force on the ____________________.
ANSWER:
stapes
32. Resistance to the flow of energy is termed ____________________.
ANSWER:
impedance
33. High-frequency sounds are processed at the ____________________ end of the cochlea.
ANSWER:
basal
34. Low-frequency sounds are processed at the ____________________ end of the cochlea.
ANSWER:
apical
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35. The basilar membrane (increases/decreases) ____________________ in stiffness from base to apex.
ANSWER:
decreases
36. The basilar membrane (increases/decreases) ____________________ in width from base to apex.
ANSWER:
increases
37. The basilar membrane (increases/decreases) ____________________ in thickness from base to apex.
ANSWER:
increases
38. The cilia of the inner hair cells are embedded in the ____________________.
ANSWER:
tectorial membrane
39. Hair cells are stimulated when the cilia are bent (toward/away from) ____________________ the modiolus.
ANSWER:
toward
40. The endocochlear potential is approximately ____________________ mV.
ANSWER:
80
41. The endocochlear potential reflects an electrical potential difference between the ____________________ and the
scala media.
ANSWER:
scala vestibuli
42. The intracellular resting potential is about ____________________ mV.
ANSWER:
150
43. The ____________________ is an electrical potential that directly follows the input acoustic signal.
ANSWER:
cochlear microphonic
44. The ____________________ potential is a sustained, direct-current (DC) shift in the endocochlear potential that
occurs upon stimulation of the organ of Corti by sound.
ANSWER:
summating
45. The ____________________ potential arises directly from stimulation of a large number of hair cells simultaneously,
eliciting nearly simultaneous individual action potentials in the VIII nerve.
ANSWER:
whole-nerve action
46. Low spontaneous rate neurons have (low/high) ____________________ thresholds of stimulation.
ANSWER:
high
47. The ____________________ of a neuron is the frequency to which it responds best.
ANSWER:
characteristic frequency
48. The (broader/sharper) ____________________ the tuning curve of an VIII nerve fiber is, the greater the frequency
specificity of the basilar membrane.
ANSWER:
sharper
49. As intensity of a signal increases, the rate of firing of auditory nerve neurons (increases/decreases)
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____________________.
ANSWER:
increases
50. ____________________ refers to the quality of a neuron’s response to the period of the stimulus.
ANSWER:
Phase-locking
51. A ____________________ histogram displays the point in the cycle of vibration at which firing occurs.
ANSWER:
period
52. When the crossed-olivocochlear and uncrossed-olivocochlear bundles are stimulated, the firing rate of neurons
innervated by them is (increased/reduced) ____________________ dramatically.
ANSWER:
reduced
53. The first brainstem nucleus of the auditory pathway is the ____________________.
ANSWER:
cochlear nucleus
54. The primary brainstem site for processing localization of sound in space is the ____________________.
ANSWER:
superior olivary complex
55. Low-frequency sounds are localized by the superior olivary complex by means of interaural ____________________
difference.
ANSWER:
phase
56. High-frequency sounds are localized by the superior olivary complex by means of the interaural
____________________ difference.
ANSWER:
intensity
57. The audible range of frequency in humans spans approximately ____________________ octaves
ANSWER:
10
ten
58. The maximum audible frequency for humans is considered to be approximately ____________________ Hz.
ANSWER:
20,000
59. The minimum audible frequency for humans is considered to be approximately ____________________ Hz.
ANSWER:
20
60. The area benefit of the middle ear transformer is approximately ____________________ dB.
ANSWER:
25
61. The lever benefit of the middle ear transformer is approximately ____________________ dB.
ANSWER:
2
62. What are the five basic physiological organizing principles that are involved in the transmission of an acoustic
stimulus to the brain?
ANSWER:
The five basic physiological organizing principles that are involved in the transmission of an acoustic stimulus
to the brain are as follows:
The outer ear collects sounds and shapes frequency components.
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cochlea
b.
middle ear
outer ear
brainstem
cerebral cortex
82. Provides the first opportunity for localization analysis
ANSWER:
e
83. Provides the means of recognizing an auditory stimulus
ANSWER:
f
84. Provides the first opportunity for frequency analysis
ANSWER:
a
85. Provides an impedance-matching system
ANSWER:
b
86. Provides a means of identifying location of the head/body in space
ANSWER:
d
87. Funnels acoustical information
ANSWER:
c
88. Filter that selectively damps components of the acoustic signal based on resonant frequencies
ANSWER:
c
89. Provides the first opportunity for decussation of information directed toward the cerebrum
ANSWER:
e
2 dB
b.
25 dB
46 dB
79. Processed in the basal end of the cochlea
ANSWER:
a
80. Provides localization cues for high-frequency sounds
ANSWER:
g
81. A direct function of the place of excitation
ANSWER:
e
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ANSWER:
104. Provides a means of determining the frequency response of a specific VIII nerve fiber
ANSWER:
105. Respond at low signal levels and display random firing even when no stimulus is present
ANSWER:
b
106. When stimulated, cause(s) reduction in firing rate of VIII nerve fibers
ANSWER:
h
107. Plots of neural response relative to the onset of the stimulus
ANSWER:
d
108. A composite of the responses of a single fiber at each frequency of stimulation
ANSWER:
109. Require higher intensity of stimulation before firing
ANSWER:
ANSWER:
b
ANSWER:
g
102. A relay of the thalamus
ANSWER:
d
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tympanic membrane
b.
manubrium
d.
2 dB
malleus
stapes
g.
impedance
h.
basal
apical
incus
k.
17 dB
126. Structure that, in combination with the incus, provides the lever benefit of the middle ear system
ANSWER:
127. The bone upon which the tensor tympani muscle exerts a restraining force
ANSWER:
e
ANSWER:
ANSWER:
f
130. End of the cochlea at which high-frequency sounds are processed
ANSWER:
131. Structure that, in combination with the oval window, provides an area benefit
ANSWER:
a
ANSWER:
133. Defined as resistance to the flow of energy
ANSWER:
a
123. Responses that have a slowly increasing firing-rate response to a stimulus during depolarization
ANSWER:
f
124. Response in which there is an initial response to the stimulus, followed by neural silence
ANSWER:
c
125. Response that has delayed onset relative to other neurons
ANSWER:
e
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whole-nerve action potential
b.
low
high
d.
characteristic frequency
broader
sharpness
g.
increase(s)
h.
decrease(s)
phase-locking
period
ANSWER:
c
ANSWER:
h
ANSWER:
f
ANSWER:
a
139. Increase of signal intensity causes this in the rate of firing of auditory nerve neurons
ANSWER:
g
ANSWER:
d
ANSWER:
ANSWER:
ANSWER:
g
134. The area benefit, in decibels
ANSWER:
c