Module 1
1. Module 1
1.34. Lesson 6
Module 1—The Nervous System
Lesson 6: Mechanoreception—the Ear
Get Focused
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Where is your cellphone? You can hear it ringing, but you can’t find it. There’s no point in asking your parents where it is because they can’t hear it. Older people who have some hearing loss may not be able to hear the high tone of the mosquito ring tone on your phone. Setting your ring tone to a high tone like that of a mosquito buzz can eliminate the possibility of people with partial hearing loss hearing your phone ring. Some municipalities and merchants use the same kind of high-pitched tone as a deterrent against young teen loiterers in public places. The tone is annoying to teens, but can’t be heard by adults. Being able to hear sound is an important factor in communication; however, not all people are able to hear the same sounds.
The ear is also an important structure involved in balance. That queasy sensation you felt when you were watching the truck beside you slide down the hill while your vehicle pulled forward last winter was the result of conflicting information from your eyes and your inner ear. When you have an inner ear infection, communication between your eyes and ears is interrupted, and you may not be able to tell whether you’re lying down or standing up. You may become dizzy and suffer vertigo, which is the feeling of spinning even when you are sitting still.
In this lesson you will explore some of these phenomena as you address the following focusing questions about the ear and mechanoreception:
- What are the major structures of the ear?
- How do these structures function to facilitate your response to sound in the environment?
- How do these structures function help you maintain your balance in a constantly changing environment?
Module 1: Lesson 6: Assignment
Your teacher-marked Module 1: Lesson 6 Assignment requires that you complete and submit the following:
- Part 1—Lab
- Part 2—Closed Written Response
- Part 3—Hearing Technologies Research
Download a copy of the Module 1: Lesson 6 Assignment to your computer now. You will receive further instructions about how to complete this assignment later in the lesson.
You must decide what to do with the questions that are not marked by your teacher.
Remember that these questions provide you with the practice and feedback that you need to successfully complete this course. You should respond to all of the questions and place those answers in your course folder.
This lesson has many questions and activities that will help you to learn, understand, practise, and apply new concepts. Although these questions and activities won’t be marked by your teacher, they give you the opportunity to apply your new skills, evaluate your understanding, and practise Diploma Exam-style questions. After you have completed the questions and activities, you should save them and your summary notes, diagrams, flow charts, and concept maps in your course folder for future study.
Further practice and application of the information introduced in this lesson can be completed by doing the questions on page 429 and pages 432 and 433 in the textbook. Some of these questions are specifically suggested as you work through the lesson. Discuss any problems or questions that you have with your teacher. You can also request feedback from your teacher about your answers.