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DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1711294
Effect of the middle ear muscles on the acoustic transfer function in the temporal bone model
Introduction The function of the middle ear muscles has not yet been fully clarified. A weakening of the sound energy at high sound pressures has been discussed in numerous studies.
Methods In unfixed temporal bone preparations, the middle ear was visualized by a posterior tympanotomy preserving all structures. After acoustic stimulation, the vibrations generated on the stapedial foot plate were measured and evaluated by Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV) as volume velocities. The preparation of the tensor tympani muscle and the stapedius muscle was then performed. To these a weight of 10g was attached one after the other in order to simulate a tension. Subsequently, the corresponding acoustic transmission function was derived again from the foot plate.
Results After attaching the weight to the M. stapedius, a weakening of the volume velocities was observed, whereas attaching the weight to the M. tensor tympani had no effect on the acoustic transmission function.
Conclusion In the experiments carried out on the temporal bone model, the thesis of the attenuation of the acoustic transmission to the middle ear by contraction of the stapedius muscle was further confirmed. In addition, it became clear that the tensor tympani muscle has no relevant influence on sound transmission.
Poster-PDF A-1853.PDF
Publication History
Article published online:
10 June 2020
© 2020. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
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