Tympanic membrane buckling doubles the force delivered to the malleus

Evidence

Pickles (1982) describes a third aspect of the middle ear that appears relevant to the impedance conversion process. This relates to a buckling motion of the tympanic membrane itself as it moves, resulting in a twofold increase in the force applied to the malleus. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 536

Categorization

Category: Causal Relationships

• XREF: Connects to impedance-matching mechanisms discussed throughout the middle-ear section of this chapter.

Related

• The ossicles convert air vibrations into mechanical movements that drive cochlear fluid (similarity 0.88)
• Middle ear bones amplify pressure over 30-fold via lever and area ratios. (similarity 0.85)
• Middle ear impedance match is optimal near 1 kHz (similarity 0.83)
• Sound becomes mechanical movement via the eardrum and ossicle chain (similarity 0.83)
• The middle ear amplifies sound pressure through three mechanical mechanisms (similarity 0.82)
• Otosclerosis stiffens ossicle movement and attenuates transmitted sound (similarity 0.81)
• The ossicles mechanically transform impedance to overcome fluid resistance (similarity 0.81)
• Outer and middle ear structures provide frequency-specific amplification of incoming sound (similarity 0.81)
• The eardrum converts air pressure changes into mechanical middle-ear vibrations (similarity 0.80)
• The middle ear both transmits sound and protects against loud noise (similarity 0.80)
• The middle ear functions as an impedance transformer matching air to fluid (similarity 0.79)
• Middle-ear muscles automatically stiffen to block loud sounds (similarity 0.79)
• An acoustic reflex desensitizes the ear to protect cochlear hair cells (similarity 0.79)
• The middle ear evolved as an impedance transformer to bridge air-water sound energy loss (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• The middle ear amplifies sound pressure through three mechanical mechanisms #expands (0.85)
• The ossicles convert air vibrations into mechanical movements that drive cochlear fluid #corroborates (0.80)
• The ossicles mechanically transform impedance to overcome fluid resistance #corroborates (0.75) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 526