Anatomy and Cell Biology

Korean Association of Anatomists (대한해부학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

The function of the tensor tympani muscle: a comprehensive review of the literature

  • Alexis Edmonson (Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine) ;
  • Joe Iwanaga (Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine) ;
  • Lukasz Olewnik (Department of Anatomical Dissection and Donation, Medical University of Lodz) ;
  • Aaron S. Dumont (Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine) ;
  • R. Shane Tubbs (Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine)
  • Received : 2021.02.15
  • Accepted : 2022.01.13
  • Published : 2022.06.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The tensor tympani muscle is structurally important in the middle ear, specifically through its involvement in the impedance of sound in response to intense auditory and non-auditory stimuli. Despite numerous studies, its true function has been debated for many years; questions still remain about its role in auditory and non-auditory reflexes and in sound damping. Some studies suggest that the tensor tympani muscle contracts as a result of non-auditory stimulation such as facial or head movements; others suggest that it contracts due to input from the cochlear nucleus, therefore by way of auditory stimulation. Whatever the cause, contraction of the tensor tympani muscle results in low frequency mixed hearing loss, either to protect the inner ear from loud sounds or to desensitize the ear to self-generated sounds. A review of these studies indicated that the tensor tympani muscle has a wide range of functions, yet the mechanisms of some of them have not been clearly demonstrated. One major question is whether the tensor tympani muscle contributes to sound damping; and if it does, what specific role it serves. The primary purpose of this review article is to explore the functions of the tensor tympani muscle in light of recent research advances.

Keywords

References

  1. Moller AR. Hearing: anatomy, physiology, and disorders of the auditory system. 2nd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2006. 
  2. Standring S. Gray's anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice. 41st ed. London: Elsevier; 2015. 
  3. Wickens B, Floyd D, Bance M. Audiometric findings with voluntary tensor tympani contraction. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2017;46:2. 
  4. Azuma T, Nogaki T, Schachern P, Paparella MM, Cureoglu S. Structural analysis of tensor tympani muscle, tympanic diaphragm, epitympanum, and protympanum in Meniere's disease: a human temporal bone study. Otol Neurotol 2018;39:499-505. 
  5. Mascarello F, Veggetti A, Cerpene E, Rowlerson A. An immunohistochemical study of the middle ear muscles of some carnivores and primates, with special reference to the IIM and slow-tonic fibre types. J Anat 1983;137(Pt 1):95-108. 
  6. Mukerji S, Windsor AM, Lee DJ. Auditory brainstem circuits that mediate the middle ear muscle reflex. Trends Amplif 2010;14:170-91. 
  7. Borg E, Counter SA, Rosler G. Theories of middle-ear muscle functions. In: Silman S, editor. The Acoustic Reflex. London: Academic Press; 1984. p.63-99. 
  8. Moller AR. Neurophysiological basis of the acoustic middle-ear reflex. In: Silman S, editor. The Acoustic Reflex. London: Academic Press; 1984. p.1-34. 
  9. Stach BA, Jerger JF, Jenkins HA. The human acoustic tensor tympani reflex. A case report. Scand Audiol 1984;13:93-9. 
  10. Benson TE, Lee DJ, Brown MC. Tensor tympani motoneurons receive mostly excitatory synaptic inputs. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2013;296:133-45. 
  11. Salomon G, Starr A. Electromyography of middle ear muscles in man during motor activities. Acta Neurol Scand 1963;39:161-8. 
  12. van den Berge H, Kingma H, Kluge C, Marres EH. Electrophysiological aspects of the middle ear muscle reflex in the rat: latency, rise time and effect on sound transmission. Hear Res 1990;48:209-19. 
  13. Gelfand SA. The contralateral acoustic-reflex threshold. In: Silman S, editor. The Acoustic Reflex. London: Academic Press; 1984. p.137-86. 
  14. Horner KC. The tensor tympani muscle reflex in the mouse. Hear Res 1986;24:117-23. 
  15. Relkin EM, Sterns A, Azeredo W, Prieve BA, Woods CI. Physiological mechanisms of onset adaptation and contralateral suppression of DPOAEs in the rat. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2005;6:119-35. 
  16. Rodriguez-Vazquez JF, Sakiyama K, Abe H, Amano O, Murakami G. Fetal tendinous connection between the tensor tympani and tensor veli palatini muscles: a single digastric muscle acting for morphogenesis of the cranial base. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2016;299:474-83. 
  17. Maynard TM, Zohn IE, Moody SA, LaMantia AS. Suckling, feeding, and swallowing: behaviors, circuits, and targets for neurodevelopmental pathology. Annu Rev Neurosci 2020;43:315-36. 
  18. Djupesland G. Middle ear muscle reflexes elicited by acoustic and nonacoustic stimulation. Acta Otolaryngol 1964;57(Suppl 188):287-92. 
  19. Bance M, Makki FM, Garland P, Alian WA, van Wijhe RG, Savage J. Effects of tensor tympani muscle contraction on the middle ear and markers of a contracted muscle. Laryngoscope 2013;123:1021-7.