You Have a Baby That Does Not Seem to Respond

question 31

Multiple Choice

You have a baby that does not seem to respond to sound. Upon thorough investigation by the doctor, there is nothing visibly wrong with the baby's ears. What internal issue may there be that is causing hearing impairment in your baby?

• A) The stereocilia within the cochlea are malformed, causing them not to bend properly in response to vibrations of the cochlear membranes caused by different sound frequencies.
• B) The auditory ossicles within the inner ear are not transmitting the sound waves properly because the first and second ossicles broke apart.
• C) The stereocilia within the middle ear are malformed so sound is not transmitted from the outer ear to the inner ear.

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Definitions:

Spermatic Cord

A bundle of fibers and tissues in males that includes the vas deferens, blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics, extending from the abdomen to the testicle.

Ejaculatory Duct

A tube through which semen enters the urethra during ejaculation, formed by the fusion of the vas deferens and the seminal vesicle.

Spermatogenic Cells

Cells located in the testis that undergo meiosis to produce spermatocytes, which ultimately develop into mature spermatozoa.

Seminiferous Tubule

Narrow, coiled tubules within the testes where sperm are produced and mature.