11
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
1. When a sound enters the ear, what are the structures it passes through on its way to become a fully
processed neural signal within the brain? Fill in the blanks below.
Sound enters through the ___________________________ of the ear, which funnels it into the
_______________________________. At the end of this structure is the _______________________________, which
vibrates because of the pressure waves created by the sound. This vibration causes movement in
a series of bones: first, a small bone called the _______________________________; second, a small bone
called the _______________________________; and third, a bone called the _______________________________,
which is connected to the _______________________________ of the inner ear. The movement of these bones
causes fluid within the cochlea to move, resulting in movement of the _______________________________
membrane. The movement of this membrane causes the _______________________________ to move
against the _______________________________ membrane, resulting in the creation of a neural signal.
This signal travels through the _______________________________ nerve, which is transferred to the
_______________________________ nucleus of the _______________________________ in the brainstem. From
there, information is relayed through multiple regions in the brain, eventually reaching the
_______________________________ of the cerebral cortex.
2. When the head is tilted, what are the structures the signal passes through on its way to becoming a
fully processed neural signal within the brain? Fill in the blanks below.
When the head is tilted, the fluid within the _______________________________ of the inner ear moves.
The exact location of stimulated cells depends on the plane of movement—with each plane being
represented by a different part of that structure. The movement of fluid stimulates
_______________________________, which transduce the signal into an electrical signal. This signal travels
through the _______________________________ nerve to the _______________________________ nucleus of the
_______________________________. From there, the information is sent to the _______________________________
for subconscious action and to the _______________________________ for conscious sensation.
