title: Middle ear, cochlea, and Tonndorf.
abstract: A review of Tonndorf's research is a review of the history of a part of our current knowledge of the auditory system. Perhaps the most important of Tonndorf's contributions to this knowledge concerns the functional properties of the middle ear and the cochlea, and this article is devoted to them. Beginning with cochlear models, he studied both the vibration of the basilar membrane and the fluid motion around it, clarifying in this way the mechanism of cochlear wave propagation. His studies of nonlinear cochlear distortions led to the discovery of distortion products that were propagated in the cochlea in the form of waves. Together with Khanna, he applied the laser technology to the study of the vibration patterns of the tympanic membranes. This study brought new light to our understanding of sound transmission of the middle ear.
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000162:Acoustics; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003051:Cochlea / Q000502:physiology*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000502:physiology*; D004548:Elasticity; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D049673:History, 20th Century; D008954:Models, Biological; D013016:Sound; D013199:Stapes / Q000502:physiology