DRUM MEMBRANE Meaning and
Definition
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The drum membrane, also known as the tympanic membrane or eardrum, is a delicate and vital component of the human ear that plays an essential role in the hearing process. It is a thin, semi-transparent structure located at the end of the ear canal, separating the outer ear from the middle ear. The drum membrane is circular in shape and slightly concave, resembling a small drum.
Functionally, the drum membrane acts as a sound amplifier and transducer. When sound waves enter the ear canal, they cause vibrations in the air. These vibrations are then funneled through the ear canal, reaching the drum membrane. The drum membrane vibrates in response to these sound waves, converting them into mechanical energy.
This mechanical energy is transmitted to the ossicles (small bones in the middle ear) located behind the drum membrane. These ossicles amplify the vibrations and transmit them to the fluid-filled cochlea in the inner ear, where they are converted into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain as sound.
The drum membrane is a delicate structure that can be easily damaged by excessive pressure changes, loud noises, or trauma. Damage to the drum membrane may cause hearing loss or pain. However, the drum membrane has the remarkable ability to heal itself in most cases.
In summary, the drum membrane is a thin, circular structure in the ear that plays a crucial role in the amplification and transmission of sound waves, enabling the process of hearing.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for DRUM MEMBRANE
- drum membra.e
- drum membrafe
- drum membrale
- drum membraoe
- drum membranu
- drum membranm
- drum membrana
- drum membrang
- d rum membrane
- dr um membrane
- dru m membrane
- drum m embrane
- drum me mbrane
- drum mem brane
- drum memb rane
- drum membr ane
- drum membra ne
- drum membran e
Etymology of DRUM MEMBRANE
The word "drum" refers to a musical instrument that consists of a hollow cylinder or hemisphere with a stretched membrane or drumhead covering one or both ends. The term "drum" itself originated from the Middle English word "drome", which stems from the Old English word "drum" and ultimately derives from the Middle Dutch word "tromme" or "trom". As for the term "membrane", it comes from the Latin word "membrāna", meaning "parchment" or "thin skin". Thus, "drum membrane" combines the word for the percussion instrument with the term for a thin sheet or layer that covers the drum.
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