Dr. Matthew Mason: Further Information...
University Physiologist Tel: +44 (0)1223 333829, Fax: +44 (0)1223 333840, E-mail: mjm68@cam.ac.uk
Mason, M.J. (2007) Pathways for sound transmission to the inner ear in amphibians. In: Hearing and Sound Communication in Amphibians, pp. 147-183. Springer Handbook of Auditory Research: Narins, P.M., Feng, A.S., Fay, R.R. & Popper, A.N. (eds). New York: Springer.
This book chapter reviews the mechanisms by which sound might get from the external environment to the inner ears of frogs, salamanders and caecilians. Most of the work in this area has been done on the frog middle ear, so this forms the focus of this chapter, although other amphibians are also considered. The anatomy of the amphibian ear is comprehensively reviewed, and the mechanisms of sound transmission, both in terrestrial and aquatic environments, are discussed. The possible roles of the operculum are critically
1. Introduction
2. The anatomy of the middle ear in amphibians
2.1.1 The middle ear cavity and tympanic membrane
2.1.2 The stapes
2.1.3 The operculum
2.1.4 The middle ear muscles
2.1.5 Reduction of the ear apparatus in frogs
2.2 The middle ear of urodeles
2.3 The middle ear of caecilians
2.4 Evolution of the middle ear in amphibians
3. Physiology of the tympanic middle ear in frogs
3.1 Response of the tympanic membrane
3.2 Ossicular movements in frogs
3.3 Sexual dimorphism in the middle ear
4. Extratympanic sound transmission
4.1 Acoustic pathways involving the lungs
4.2 Acoustic pathways between the inner ear and cranial cavity
4.3 Sound transmission in caecilians
5. The opercularis system
5.1 The opercularis system and the detection of body movements
5.2 The opercularis system and protection against intense sounds
5.3 The opercularis system as a mechanism to enhance perception of airborne sound
5.4 The opercularis system and the detection of substrate vibrations
5.5 The opercularis system and pressure buffering
6. Underwater hearing in amphibians
6.1 Underwater hearing in frogs with tympanic ears
6.2 Underwater hearing in Xenopus laevis
6.3 Underwater hearing in urodeles
6.4 Underwater hearing in tadpoles
7. Summary
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