[The definition of acoustic impedance and its application to the human hearing organ].
Acoustic impedance measurement at the point of entry into the external auditory meatus provides a rapid means to detect malfunctions of the middle ear in the region of the tympanic membrane, without having recourse to perforating the tympanic membrane. In this article we define acoustic impedance and provide a brief reminder of its physical properties. In the last part, we review the possibilities offered by measurement of the impedance to acoustic stimuli, not only for clinical diagnosis, but also in the understanding ot the physical phenomena occurring within the hearing organ.
Pascal
J
J
Université Paul Sabatier, Pessac, France.
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological