Kuuloreitin

Kuuloreitin refers to the complex biological pathway that allows for the perception of sound. This process begins when sound waves enter the ear canal and strike the tympanic membrane, causing it to vibrate. These vibrations are then amplified by the ossicles – the malleus, incus, and stapes – in the middle ear. The stapes transmits these vibrations to the oval window, a membrane-covered opening to the cochlea, located in the inner ear.

Within the cochlea, the vibrations create fluid waves in the perilymph. These waves stimulate the basilar membrane, which in turn causes the movement of hair cells within the organ of Corti. The hair cells are mechanoreceptors that convert the mechanical energy of these vibrations into electrical signals. These electrical signals are then transmitted to the auditory nerve.

The auditory nerve carries these signals to the brainstem, where they undergo initial processing. From the brainstem, the signals travel through various auditory pathways to the auditory cortex in the temporal lobe of the brain. It is in the auditory cortex that these electrical signals are interpreted as sound, allowing us to perceive pitch, loudness, and timbre. Disruptions at any stage of this kuuloreitin can lead to various forms of hearing loss or auditory processing disorders.