PHYSIOLOGY OF HEARING

DR BUKANU
 PHYSICS OF SOUND
Sound is a form of physical energy, that can
cause auditory stimulation.

Acoustics
This is the study of sound as it relates to
hearing
 Sound sources
These are materials that can convert mechanical
energy applied on them into sound energy
e.g. (a) Tuning fork
(b) Musical instruments
(c) Vocal cords etc.
 Sound transmission
Sound can only travel in matter.

Velocity of sound

The velocity of sound in a medium depends on it’s

density and elasticity

Velocity of sound in air

330 m/sec at sea level
 The Dimensions of sound
The dimensions of sound, depend on the oscillations of
the sound source.

The dimensions are

(1) Amplitude
(2) Wave length
(3) Frequency
(4) Intensity
 Illustration of the dimensions
A sine curve is obtained when the displacement of a
single particle in a sound medium is plotted against
time

AMPLITUDE: Distance between A and B

WAVE LENGTH
Is the distance covered by the oscillating particle in a
single cycle.
 FREQUENCY:
This is the number of complete cycles per second (Hz)
Pitch of sound relates to its frequency.

AUDIBLE RANGE OF FREQUENCY

16Hz to 20,000Hz
Lower frequencies = Subsonic
Higher frequencies = Ultrasonics
 INTENSITY
-This is loudness of sound.
It is proportional to the amplitude and frequency.
-Sound intensity is expressed in sound pressure
units i.e dynes.cm2.The faintest sound that can be
heard by the human ear is 0.0002dynes/cm2.
This is the threshold of hearing.
-The loudest sound that can be tolerated by the
human ear is several billions of the threshold
intensity.
 THE DECIBEL (dB)
This is a logarithmic scale, that measures
sound pressure in Acoustics.

By definition
The threshold of hearing i.e 0.0002
dynes/cm2 is taken as zero ‘0’ dB
 DECIBEL SCALE
The decibel scale is given as a multiple factor of 10
of the Threshold of hearing.
10dB IS 10 X the threshold of hearing.
20 dB is 100 x (102)Threshold of hearing
30 dB is 1000 x (103) Threshold of hearing
60 dB is 1,000,000 (106) Threshold of hearing
Sensitivity of the EAR to Sound:
This depends of the sound intensity and it’s
frequency
 A PURE TONE AUDIOGRAM
This is a recording from an audiometer, which
represent the threshold of hearing of an
individual at different frequencies.

An Audiometer
An Audiometer is a machine that measure the
threshold of hearing at different frequencies.
 AN AUDIOGRAM
E.g. of an Audiogram
 SOUND CONDUCTION

The PINNA
Deflects sound energy into the external
auditory canal.
This function is more pronounce in certain
animals e.g. the Elephant.
The pinna is also useful in sound location.
Bin aural(two ears) sound reception also contributes
to sound location.
 The External auditory canal
(1) Allows sound waves to reach the Drum
(2) Amplifies 2kHz-5kHz sound frequency range
10 times.
(3) Protects the drum from direct physical
violence by its
(a) S-shape
(b) Vibrissae
(c) Wax
 The MIDDLE EAR
The middle ear is adapted to transmit sound to
the cochlear.

Impedance mismatching:
When sound is transmitted from air to a
liquid, there is high resistance to transmission
at the air water interface. The resistance is
known as Impedance mismatching. 99.9% of the
sound energy is reflected back at the air water
Inter phase
 MIDDLE EAR ADAPTION
(1) Transformer Effect
(2) Preferential transmission
(3) The area ratio
 MIDDLE EAR TRANSFORMER EFFECT
The middle ear functions as a step up
transformer. It increases several times the
sound pressure presented at the oval window
to off set losses due to impedance
mismatching.
 THE AREAL RATIO
The effective tympanic membrane vibrating
area is 14 times that of the oval window
membrane.

Hence by hydraulic principles pressure acting on

the tympanic membrane is increased 14 times
at the oval window.
 The Lever ratio

The ossicular chain act’s as a lever

mechanism with mechanical advantage of
(1.3).
Pivot at incudo-malleolar joint
Load at stapedial head
Force at drum head
 PREFERANTIAL TRANSMISSION
The arrangement of the ossicular chain enable
almost all sound energy to travel to the oval
window.
Only 0.01% reaches the round window.
If equal sound pressure were to be transmitted
to oval window and round window simultaneously,
vibratory energy necessary for cochlear
microphonics would not occur.
The actual transformation effect gained by the
middle ear is about 27-30 dB.
 SOME DISORDERS OF MIDDLE EAR SOUND
TRANSMISSION
(a) DRUM PERFORATION
This lead to hearing loss due to reduction of the
areal ratio
(b) Loss of ossicular chain
Leads to hearing loss due loss of lever ratio and
preferential transmission effect.
(c) STAPES FIXATION
Interfere with transformer effect
SOUND TRANSMISSION IN THE
COCHLEAR
 the cochlear
PERILYMPH : CSF like fluid that surrounds the cochlear.
ENDOLYMPH: Intracellular like fluid that
bathes basilar membrane and hair cells.
STRIA-VASCULARIS: Cells that secrete
endolymph .Endolymph supply nutrients and
oxygen to hair cells. This is the main source
of energy to the cochlear (cochlear Battery)
 Cochlear ct.

HAIR CELLS: These convert mechanical

energy into electrical energy.
TECTORIAL MEMBRANE:
Transmits sound vibrations into the hair cells
by deformation of the hairs of the hair cells.
BASILAR MEMBRANE.Supports the nerve
fiber of the the hair cells.
It is also sound frequency analyzer
ILLUSTRATION:
INNER EAR ELECTRICAL POTENTIALS

• Endolymphatic potential.This is electric

potential between endolymph and the hair
cell. It is 160mv.
• Cochlear microphonics.This is electrical
activity that arises in the hair cells when
stimulated by acoustic energy.
• Auditory nerve action potential.this are
nerve impulses acquired from the hair cells.
 TRANSUDATION
Transudation is a process whereby mechanical
energy (acoustic energy) is converted into
electrical energy (neural energy)at the hair
Cells.
Acoustic energy at the oval window from the
stapes foot plate displaces the fluids in the
cochlear. This in turn displaces the basilar
membrane.
 THE TRAVELLING WAVE
The displacement pattern in the basilar
membrane is a travelling wave. The wave
travels from the base of the cochlear to the
Apex.
 Traveling wave ct.
-The site of the peak or maximum amplitude of
basilar displacement varies as a function of the
stimulus frequency.
-Traveling waves produced by high frequency
sound have their peaks near the base of the
cochlear, where as waves from low frequency
sounds have their peaks near the apex of the
cochlear.
-Hence the cochlear acts as a frequency analyzer.
 Transudation.CT.
-Displacement of the hairs of the hair cells
leads to changes of hair cell membrane
potential mediated by the Sodium-potassium
pump.
-This also leads to an influx of calcium ions
which leads to release of glutamic acid a
chemical neural transmitter leading to nerve
impulse along the acoustic nerve.
ELECTRICAL IMPULSE FLOWS ACROSS HAIR CELL
MB
ACTION POTENTIAL FLOW ALONG
NERVE FIBRE (Nerve impulse)
To
AUDITORY NUCLEUS
To
AUDITORY CORTEX (TEMPORAL LOBE)
HERE IT IS INTERPRATED AS SOUND AWARENESS
OR HEARING.