Beginner Tympanic Membrane Quiz

Q1. What does the tympanic membrane separate?

• Middle ear and inner ear
• Cochlea and vestibule
• External acoustic meatus and middle ear
• Nasopharynx and middle ear

Q2. Which part forms most of the tympanic membrane?

• Pars flaccida
• Pars tensa
• Promontory
• Oval window

Q3. Which part of the tympanic membrane is relatively small and lax?

• Pars flaccida
• Annulus
• Pars tensa
• Umbo

Q4. Which auditory ossicle is directly attached to the tympanic membrane?

• Malleus
• Stapes
• Cochlea
• Incus

Q5. What is the umbo of the tympanic membrane?

• The superior opening of the auditory tube
• The most depressed central point of the membrane
• The footplate of the stapes
• The lateral end of the cochlea

Q6. What is the main function of the tympanic membrane in hearing?

• Detect angular acceleration
• Generate auditory nerve action potentials directly
• Convert sound pressure into mechanical vibration of the ossicles
• Produce endolymph

Q7. How is the normal tympanic membrane positioned relative to the external acoustic meatus?

• Obliquely
• Parallel to the roof of the middle ear
• Perfectly horizontal
• Perfectly vertical and transverse

Q8. Which structure anchors the peripheral margin of most of the tympanic membrane?

• Annular ligament of the stapes
• Fibrocartilaginous annulus
• Round window membrane
• Spiral ligament

Q9. Which visible landmark extends from the umbo toward the superior part of the tympanic membrane?

• Handle of the malleus
• Stapes footplate
• Long process of the incus
• Chorda tympani

Q10. How many conventional clinical quadrants are used to describe the tympanic membrane?

• Two
• Six
• Four
• Three