Question

Ear drum is known as:
A. Tympanic membrane
B. Tensor tympani
C. Scala tympani
D. Scala vestibule

Answer 1

Hint: Ear drum collects the sound and carries it towards the brain through the external auditory meatus canal.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
The eardrum is a thin and cone-shaped membrane that helps to separate the external ear. The tympanum function is to transmit sound to the ossicles from the air. From the ossicles, the sound waves travel through the oval window in the fluid-filled cochlea. The sound gets converted and amplified. In mammals and other tetrapods, the eardrum is also known as the myringa or tympanic membrane.

There are only two muscles in the middle ear and the tensor tympani is one of them. It decreases or dampens the sound passing through the middle ear. It is used while eating or chewing. It decreases the unnecessary sound of chewing.

The scala tympani is a fluid-filled cavity present in the cochlea. It converts the sound into electrical signals and sends it to the brain. The brain can not understand the sound, hence it is necessary to convert the sound into an electrical signal that the brain understands. It is essential for hearing. Sound waves are converted to mechanical vibrations in the middle ear, and then into waves within the scala tympani.

The Scala vestibule is a cavity present in the cochlea. The cochlea is a member of the inner ear. It conducts sound vibration to the cochlear duct.

Hence, The correct option is A.

Note: The tympanic membrane is a thin, semi-transparent membrane which is composed of 3 layers: An outer epithelial layer; a middle fibrous layer; and an inner mucosal layer.