Ossicular motion related to middle ear transmission delay in gerbil

The middle ear transmits sound efficiently from the air in the ear canal (EC) to the fluid filled cochlea. In gerbil, middle ear transmission produces a constant pressure gain between the EC and the cochlea of ∼25 dB from 2 to 40 kHz, and a delay-like phase corresponding to a ∼25–30 μs delay. The mechanisms by which the air-born signal is collected and delivered to the cochlea are not thoroughly understood, and the source of the delay is controversial. We investigated these issues by observing ossicular motion along a single line of sight, roughly parallel to the EC and perpendicular to the stapes footplate. Measurements were made at the umbo, the long process of the manubrium, across the malleus–incus joint, at the long process of the incus, and the stapes head. While the overall delay between EC pressure and stapes velocity was fairly constant with frequency, subcomponents of the delay were frequency dependent. Up to ∼17 kHz, most of the overall delay was between the EC and umbo with a much smaller contribution along the ossicles, whereas in the range from ∼17 to 30 kHz, more of the overall delay was along the ossicles.

Research highlights► The frequency-independent delay arises from the sum of 2 frequency-dependent delays. ► The ossicles contribute to the overall delay at frequencies above ∼17 kHz. ► Up to ∼17 kHz, most of the overall delay is between the EC and umbo. ► A simple lumped element model can explain the frequency dependence of the delay.