Quiz - Physiology - Ears

[Pedro Burrito]

Good morning from cool and wet Switzerland!

From the Physiology section of the PADI Dive Theory Exam:

The ___ ear is the part most affected by changes in pressure.

a. middle

b. outer

c. inner

d. soft tissues in the

I will post a daily question from my exams to help newer divers and to encourage more experienced divers to interact gracefully and helpfully with the newer divers.

Reminder - this is a post in the Basic Forum and it is a green zone. Please be nice and on topic.

Thank you for your patience while we try to give people something to discuss other than Covid-19 and/or Politics. I will post the answer covered by the spoiler tag later today.

 

[thumbsplitter]

Not to be pedantic, but pressure effects on the ear are about the differential pressure between the outer and middle ear, which are separated by the tympanic membrane (i.e., ear drum).

No?

 

[tursiops]

Not to be pedantic, but pressure effects on the ear are about the differential pressure between the outer and middle ear, which are separated by the tympanic membrane (i.e., ear drum).

No?

LOL. You may be in serious danger of overthinking the question!

 

[thumbsplitter]

LOL. You may be in serious danger of overthinking the question!

Perhaps... I've been known to do it before! However, when the structure in the ear most likely to suffer barotrauma (i.e., the ear drum), is not really part of the outer or middle ear, I think the MC options aren't great.

 

[Scraps]

Not to be pedantic, but pressure effects on the ear are about the differential pressure between the outer and middle ear, which are separated by the tympanic membrane (i.e., ear drum).

No?

I'll go ahead and be pedantic.

Even if you don't count the eardrum as part of the middle ear, there's no serious case to be made that the outer ear or inner ear is more affected by changes in pressure than the middle ear.

Severe ear barotrauma may lead to a ruptured tympanic membrane, but the usual symptoms of ear barotrauma (pain, pressure sensation, dizziness, difficulty hearing, ear feeling "full", fluid pressing against the tympanic membrane, fluid leaking from the ear) are associated with problems in the middle ear--deeper in than the eardrum.

 

[Pedro Burrito]

Spoiler: Answer

a. middle