Which of the following describes what happens if you trace an auditory stimulus from the time it first reaches the ear until it arrives at the brain?
A) The outer ear (pinna) gathers sound waves and funnels them down the auditory canal striking the eardrum.
B) The basilar membrane causes the hammer, anvil, and stirrup to vibrate striking the oval window.
C) The auditory cones respond to the various tonal frequencies, which lead the auditory nerve to send a message to the brain.
D) The auditory nerve joins with the nasal nerve to produce an input to the olfactory lobe.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When an auditory stimulus is first detected, it is collected by the outer ear (pinna) and funneled down the auditory canal where it strikes the eardrum. This process is called sound localization, and it is important for determining the origin of sounds in the environment. From there, the sound waves cause the middle ear bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) to vibrate, which in turn causes the oval window to vibrate. This action moves fluid in the cochlea and causes the basilar membrane to vibrate. These vibrations are picked up by the hair cells of the inner ear, which then send a message along the auditory nerve to the brain for processing.

Which of the Following Describes What Happens If You Trace