Acoustics of the Human Middle-Ear Air Space

Authors

Cara E. Stepp, Smith College
Susan E. Voss, Smith CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2005

Publication Title

Journal of the Acoustical Society of America

Abstract

The impedance of the middle-ear air space was measured on three human cadaver ears with complete mastoid air-cell systems. Below 500 Hz, the impedance is approximately compliance-like, and at higher frequencies (500-6000 Hz) the impedance magnitude has several (five to nine) extrema. Mechanisms for these extrema are identified and described through circuit models of the middle-ear air space. The measurements demonstrate that the middle-ear air space impedance can affect the middle-ear impedance at the tympanic membrane by as much as 10 dB at frequencies greater than 1000 Hz. Thus, variations in the middle-ear air space impedance that result from variations in anatomy of the middle-ear air space can contribute to inter-ear variations in both impedance measurements and otoacoustic emissions, when measured at the tympanic membrane.

Volume

118

Issue

2

First Page

861

Last Page

871

DOI

10.1121/1.1974730

ISSN

00014966

Rights

© 2005 Acoustical Society of America.

Comments

Archived as published.

Recommended Citation

Stepp, Cara E. and Voss, Susan E., "Acoustics of the Human Middle-Ear Air Space" (2005). Engineering: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/egr_facpubs/74