Auditory Sense (Hearing) Sense organs: ear, cochleaReceptor cell: hair cell, cilia deflect w/sound waveReceptor mechanism: mechanically-gated cation

channels allow depolarize in one direction, hyperpol in other

Coding of intensity and direction: amount and direction of cilia bending, ear coordination

Coding of pitch: which hair cells are deflectedPathway of conduction: CN VIII-medulla-thalamus-

auditory cortex

* external ear (air) * middle ear (air) * inner ear (liquid)

Overall anatomy of the human ear

vestibular

cochlear

tympanic

http://www.blackwellscience.com/matthews/ear.html

http://www.innerbody.com/anim/ear.html

Equilibrium Sense organs: semicircular canals with ampullae

and utricle and saccule with maculaeReceptor cell: hair cellReceptor signal transduction mechanism: cilia

with mechanically-gated cation channels allow depolarize in one direction, hyperpol in other

Coding of intensity and direction: amount and direction of cilia bending

Pathway of conduction: CNVIII-pons-cerebellum

The semicircular canals - detect rotational (angular) acceleration