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The Malleable Middle Ear: An Underappreciated Player in the Evolution of Hearing in Vertebrates

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Insights from Comparative Hearing Research

Part of the book series: Springer Handbook of Auditory Research ((SHAR,volume 49))

Abstract

The middle ear of tetrapods (limbed vertebrates) originated from nonauditory structures, and has been modified by adaptations arising from the lifestyle of the tetrapods. These accessory structures for the inner ear increased the sensitivity to airborne sound, the frequency range of hearing, and the directionality of the ear. The tympanic middle ear originated independently at least once in every major tetrapod group and a long time after the origin of the tetrapods.

The aim of the chapter is to give an outline of middle ear function and, a comparative overview of tetrapod middle ears and to describe how the middle ear has undergone diverse, major modifications (e.g., in aquatic, fossorial, or ultrasound-sensitive species). In some cases, these modifications even led to a reduction or complete loss of function of the middle ear, leading to decreased auditory sensitivity. These reductions were the result of unrelated, obviously more important, selection pressures.

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Acknowledgments

We thank John Rosowski for comments on an earlier version of this chapter.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark

    Jakob Christensen-Dalsgaard

  2. Cochlear and Auditory Brainstem Physiology, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky Strasse 9-11, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany

    Geoffrey A. Manley

Authors
  1. Jakob Christensen-Dalsgaard
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  2. Geoffrey A. Manley
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Correspondence to Jakob Christensen-Dalsgaard .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine and Health Science, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Niedersachsen, Germany

    Christine Köppl

  2. School of Medicine and Health Science, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Niedersachsen, Germany

    Geoffrey A. Manley

  3. Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA

    Arthur N. Popper

  4. Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA

    Richard R. Fay

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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Christensen-Dalsgaard, J., Manley, G.A. (2013). The Malleable Middle Ear: An Underappreciated Player in the Evolution of Hearing in Vertebrates. In: Köppl, C., Manley, G., Popper, A., Fay, R. (eds) Insights from Comparative Hearing Research. Springer Handbook of Auditory Research, vol 49. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/2506_2013_33

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