Experimental Studies on Sound Transmission in the Human Ear

Abstract

By means of the experimental set-up described, in which an automatic sound level recorder is employed, it is possible to obtain a graphic representation of the sound conduction (so-called transmission characteristics) in the ear of post-mortem human temporal bones.A decreased transmission of the high-frequency range has been obtained by filling the tympanic cavity with water, whereas a reduction of the low-frequency transmission occurred as a result of pressure changes in the tympanic cavity.Finally, it is shown that fenestration of the superior semicircular canal produces a reduction of the response in the low-frequency range.