tensor tympani
Middle ear dampener
The tensor tympani is a small muscle in the middle ear that dampens loud sounds by tensing the eardrum.
It contracts reflexively in response to chewing, yawning, or sudden noises, protecting the delicate inner ear structures.
Some people can voluntarily contract this muscle, producing a low rumbling sound audible only to themselves.
anatomy
Hammer-shaped hearing bone
- ossiclesMinute skeletal structures
- incusMiddle ear ossicle
- stapesInner ear ossicle
- eustachian tubeEar-to-pharynx drainage channel
contraction
Sudden brief muscle jerks
- spasmInvoluntary muscle contraction
- twitchInvoluntary muscular jerk
- flutteringLight, rapid movement
- rhythmic movementPatterned bodily motion
disorders
Perceived phantom ear sounds
- misophoniaSound-triggered emotional disorder
- phonophobiaPathological dread of sounds
malleus
Hammer-shaped hearing bone
eustachian tube · middle ear · oval window · round window · manubrium
myoclonus
Sudden brief muscle jerks
- spasmInvoluntary muscle contraction
- twitchInvoluntary muscular jerk
- flutteringLight, rapid movement
tinnitus
Perceived phantom ear sounds
- misophoniaSound-triggered emotional disorder
- phonophobiaPathological dread of sounds
vocalization
Producing sounds with voice
- ear anatomyearwax, cerumen, eardrum, cochlea, ear canal
- hearing anatomycochlea, ear, auditory nerve, eardrum, inner ear
- Ear Muscles
- head musclesmasseter, temporalis, frontalis, corrugator
- middle earmalleus, incus, stapes, ossicles, eardrum
- ligamentsligament, ACL, LCL, cruciate ligament, collateral ligament
intense, tense, tension, intensity, pretentious, intentional, tensed, intentionally, tensing