Physiology of acoustic

and vestibular analyzer

Sound conducting apparatus
1. directs the sound
2. increases sound intensity
3. protects the ear from
intensive sound
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Medical Lecture Notes – All Subjects

USMLE Exam (America) – Practice

 Functions of receptors in acoustic
analyzer
 Detection of sound pitch
 Detection of sound intensity
 Detection of sound direction
 Coding of information into a special
pattern of action potentials
Functions of ascending pathways in
acoustic analyzer
 Transmission of information to cerebral
cortex
 Detection of sound direction, produced by
superior olivary nucleus
 Organization of primary reflexes by
midbrain
 Functions of the cortex in hearing
 The main function- formation of acoustic sensations
 Location-Heshle gyrus (superior temporal gyrus)
 Functions: 1. discrimination of sound frequences
 Psychic sensations of sound pitches
 Detection of the direction of the sounds
 Detection of special modulation of sounds, such as noise
versus pure frequency sounds
 Function of association cortex: Recognition of sounds
 Associate sound information with information from other
sensory areas of the cortex
 recognition of words (Wernike’s area)
 Determination of sound frequency

 Place principle for determination of sound frequency:

 Low frequency sounds cause maximal activation of the
basilar membrane near the apex of the cochlea
 High frequency sounds cause maximal activation of the
basilar membrane near the basis of the cochlea (oval &
round windows)
 Intermediate distances activate the basilar membrane
between these two extremes
 Thus, there is spatial organization of the nerve fibers
from the cochlea to the cerebral cortex. Specific brain
neurons are activated by specific sound frequencies.
Determination of sound frequency
 Sounds up to 1000 Hz are coded by
frequency principle, i.e. by the number of
action potentials caused in n.cochlearis
 700 Hz = 700 AP, 900 Hz = 900 AP
 This coding is restricted by 1000 Hz
because of nerve lability
Temporal Temporal
lobe lobe
MGB MGB

Inf. Inf.
col. col.

Olives nuclei Olives nuclei

Spiral Cochlear Cochlear

ganglion nuclei nuclei

Sensory
cells of
cochlear
 ADEQUATE STIMULI
 For otolit apparatus
– gravitational
acceleration (disposition of the center of
gravity)

 For semicircular channels receptors –

angular acceleration (turning of the head)
 Somato-sensory cortex Sensor disorders

thalamus hypothalamus
Eye nystagmus VPL

Midbrain
III,IV, VI cerebellum

Vestibular nuclei
Life important centers
R, B, Sh. D
Vestibulo
Vegetative disorde
receptors
γ & α motoneurons
Neck muscles
Movement disorde
extensors