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Multiple Choice
What happens to the tympanic membrane when sound waves pass down the external acoustic meatus?
A
It dissolves to allow sound to reach the inner ear directly.
B
It vibrates in response to the sound waves.
C
It secretes earwax to trap the sound waves.
D
It contracts to block the passage of sound.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the anatomy of the ear: The tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum, is a thin, cone-shaped membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear. It plays a crucial role in hearing by responding to sound waves.
Recognize the function of the external acoustic meatus: This is the canal that carries sound waves from the external environment to the tympanic membrane. The sound waves travel through this passage and reach the eardrum.
Learn the response of the tympanic membrane to sound waves: When sound waves strike the tympanic membrane, it vibrates. These vibrations correspond to the frequency and amplitude of the sound waves, which are then transmitted to the ossicles in the middle ear.
Clarify misconceptions: The tympanic membrane does not dissolve, secrete earwax, or contract to block sound. Its primary function is to vibrate in response to sound waves, enabling the process of hearing.
Connect to the broader process of hearing: The vibrations of the tympanic membrane are transferred to the ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes), which amplify the sound and pass it to the cochlea in the inner ear for further processing into neural signals.