Hearing , or auditory perception , is the ability to perceive sounds through an organ, such as an ear , by detecting vibrations as periodic changes in the pressure of a surrounding medium. The academic field concerned with hearing is auditory science .
101-415: Sound may be heard through solid , liquid , or gaseous matter. It is one of the traditional five senses . Partial or total inability to hear is called hearing loss . In humans and other vertebrates, hearing is performed primarily by the auditory system : mechanical waves , known as vibrations, are detected by the ear and transduced into nerve impulses that are perceived by the brain (primarily in
202-515: A rock sample is a random aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids , and has no specific chemical composition. The vast majority of the rocks of the Earth's crust consist of quartz (crystalline SiO 2 ), feldspar, mica, chlorite , kaolin , calcite, epidote , olivine , augite , hornblende , magnetite , hematite , limonite and a few other minerals. Some minerals, like quartz , mica or feldspar are common, while others have been found in only
303-404: A characteristic place of resonance along it. Characteristic frequencies are high at the basal entrance to the cochlea, and low at the apex. Basilar membrane motion causes depolarization of the hair cells , specialized auditory receptors located within the organ of Corti. While the hair cells do not produce action potentials themselves, they release neurotransmitter at synapses with the fibers of
404-578: A clinical setting, this management is offered by otologists and audiologists . Hearing loss is associated with Alzheimer's disease and dementia with a greater degree of hearing loss tied to a higher risk. There is also an association between type 2 diabetes and hearing loss . Hearing threshold and the ability to localize sound sources are reduced underwater in humans, but not in aquatic animals, including whales, seals, and fish which have ears adapted to process water-borne sound. Not all sounds are normally audible to all animals. Each species has
505-525: A coin, are chemically identical throughout, many other common materials comprise a number of different substances packed together. For example, a typical rock is an aggregate of several different minerals and mineraloids , with no specific chemical composition. Wood is a natural organic material consisting primarily of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of organic lignin . In materials science, composites of more than one constituent material can be designed to have desired properties. The forces between
606-541: A composite made up of a thermoplastic matrix such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) in which calcium carbonate chalk, talc , glass fibers or carbon fibers have been added for strength, bulk, or electro-static dispersion. These additions may be referred to as reinforcing fibers, or dispersants, depending on their purpose. Thus, the matrix material surrounds and supports the reinforcement materials by maintaining their relative positions. The reinforcements impart their special mechanical and physical properties to enhance
707-1043: A few locations worldwide. The largest group of minerals by far is the silicates (most rocks are ≥95% silicates), which are composed largely of silicon and oxygen , with the addition of ions of aluminium, magnesium , iron, calcium and other metals. Ceramic solids are composed of inorganic compounds, usually oxides of chemical elements. They are chemically inert, and often are capable of withstanding chemical erosion that occurs in an acidic or caustic environment. Ceramics generally can withstand high temperatures ranging from 1,000 to 1,600 °C (1,830 to 2,910 °F). Exceptions include non-oxide inorganic materials, such as nitrides , borides and carbides . Traditional ceramic raw materials include clay minerals such as kaolinite , more recent materials include aluminium oxide ( alumina ). The modern ceramic materials, which are classified as advanced ceramics, include silicon carbide and tungsten carbide . Both are valued for their abrasion resistance, and hence find use in such applications as
808-580: A material can absorb before mechanical failure, while fracture toughness (denoted K Ic ) describes the ability of a material with inherent microstructural flaws to resist fracture via crack growth and propagation. If a material has a large value of fracture toughness , the basic principles of fracture mechanics suggest that it will most likely undergo ductile fracture. Brittle fracture is very characteristic of most ceramic and glass-ceramic materials that typically exhibit low (and inconsistent) values of K Ic . For an example of applications of ceramics,
909-558: A material that indicates its ability to conduct heat . Solids also have a specific heat capacity , which is the capacity of a material to store energy in the form of heat (or thermal lattice vibrations). Electrical properties include both electrical resistivity and conductivity , dielectric strength , electromagnetic permeability , and permittivity . Electrical conductors such as metals and alloys are contrasted with electrical insulators such as glasses and ceramics. Semiconductors behave somewhere in between. Whereas conductivity in metals
1010-497: A measure as employing an anechoic chamber , which absorbs nearly all sound. Another means is the use of devices such as earplugs , which are inserted into the ear canal to block noise, or earmuffs , objects designed to cover a person's ears entirely. The loss of hearing, when it is caused by neural loss, cannot presently be cured. Instead, its effects can be mitigated by the use of audioprosthetic devices, i.e. hearing assistive devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants . In
1111-440: A meltdown of the metallic parts. Work is also being done in developing ceramic parts for gas turbine engines . Turbine engines made with ceramics could operate more efficiently, giving aircraft greater range and payload for a set amount of fuel. Such engines are not in production, however, because the manufacturing of ceramic parts in the sufficient precision and durability is difficult and costly. Processing methods often result in
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#17327719766801212-578: A metallic conductor, current is carried by the flow of electrons, but in semiconductors, current can be carried either by electrons or by the positively charged " holes " in the electronic band structure of the material. Common semiconductor materials include silicon, germanium and gallium arsenide . Many traditional solids exhibit different properties when they shrink to nanometer sizes. For example, nanoparticles of usually yellow gold and gray silicon are red in color; gold nanoparticles melt at much lower temperatures (~300 °C for 2.5 nm size) than
1313-422: A non-crystalline intergranular phase. Glass-ceramics are used to make cookware (originally known by the brand name CorningWare ) and stovetops that have high resistance to thermal shock and extremely low permeability to liquids. The negative coefficient of thermal expansion of the crystalline ceramic phase can be balanced with the positive coefficient of the glassy phase. At a certain point (~70% crystalline)
1414-529: A periodic lattice. Mathematically, the potential of the ion cores can be treated by various models, the simplest being the nearly free electron model . Minerals are naturally occurring solids formed through various geological processes under high pressures. To be classified as a true mineral, a substance must have a crystal structure with uniform physical properties throughout. Minerals range in composition from pure elements and simple salts to very complex silicates with thousands of known forms. In contrast,
1515-412: A piezoelectric response several times larger than the traditional piezoelectric material quartz (crystalline SiO 2 ). The deformation (~0.1%) lends itself to useful technical applications such as high-voltage sources, loudspeakers, lasers, as well as chemical, biological, and acousto-optic sensors and/or transducers. Brainstem The brainstem (or brain stem ) is the posterior stalk-like part of
1616-412: A range of impairments including locked-in syndrome . Duret haemorrhages are areas of bleeding in the midbrain and upper pons due to a downward traumatic displacement of the brainstem. Cysts known as syrinxes can affect the brainstem, in a condition, called syringobulbia . These fluid-filled cavities can be congenital, acquired or the result of a tumor. Criteria for claiming brainstem death in
1717-438: A range of normal hearing for both amplitude and frequency . Many animals use sound to communicate with each other, and hearing in these species is particularly important for survival and reproduction. In species that use sound as a primary means of communication, hearing is typically most acute for the range of pitches produced in calls and speech. Frequencies capable of being heard by humans are called audio or sonic. The range
1818-499: A resin during processing, which is then shaped into a final form. Polymers that have been around, and that are in current widespread use, include carbon-based polyethylene , polypropylene , polyvinyl chloride , polystyrene , nylons, polyesters , acrylics , polyurethane , and polycarbonates , and silicon-based silicones . Plastics are generally classified as "commodity", "specialty" and "engineering" plastics. Composite materials contain two or more macroscopic phases, one of which
1919-442: A significant portion of the fields of solid-state chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering. Metallic solids are held together by a high density of shared, delocalized electrons, known as " metallic bonding ". In a metal, atoms readily lose their outermost ("valence") electrons , forming positive ions . The free electrons are spread over the entire solid, which is held together firmly by electrostatic interactions between
2020-454: A single crystal, but instead are made of a large number of single crystals, known as crystallites , whose size can vary from a few nanometers to several meters. Such materials are called polycrystalline . Almost all common metals, and many ceramics , are polycrystalline. In other materials, there is no long-range order in the position of the atoms. These solids are known as amorphous solids ; examples include polystyrene and glass. Whether
2121-435: A solid is crystalline or amorphous depends on the material involved, and the conditions in which it was formed. Solids that are formed by slow cooling will tend to be crystalline, while solids that are frozen rapidly are more likely to be amorphous. Likewise, the specific crystal structure adopted by a crystalline solid depends on the material involved and on how it was formed. While many common objects, such as an ice cube or
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#17327719766802222-692: A way that the strain is directly proportional to the stress ( Hooke's law ). The coefficient of the proportion is called the modulus of elasticity or Young's modulus . This region of deformation is known as the linearly elastic region. Three models can describe how a solid responds to an applied stress: Many materials become weaker at high temperatures. Materials that retain their strength at high temperatures, called refractory materials , are useful for many purposes. For example, glass-ceramics have become extremely useful for countertop cooking, as they exhibit excellent mechanical properties and can sustain repeated and quick temperature changes up to 1000 °C. In
2323-471: A wide distribution of microscopic flaws that frequently play a detrimental role in the sintering process, resulting in the proliferation of cracks, and ultimate mechanical failure. Glass-ceramic materials share many properties with both non-crystalline glasses and crystalline ceramics . They are formed as a glass, and then partially crystallized by heat treatment, producing both amorphous and crystalline phases so that crystalline grains are embedded within
2424-414: A wide variety of polymers and plastics . Wood is a natural organic material consisting primarily of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin . Regarding mechanical properties, the fibers are strong in tension, and the lignin matrix resists compression. Thus wood has been an important construction material since humans began building shelters and using boats. Wood to be used for construction work
2525-686: Is also a fundamental feature of many biological materials and the manner by which the structures are assembled from the molecular level up. Thus, self-assembly is emerging as a new strategy in the chemical synthesis of high performance biomaterials. Physical properties of elements and compounds that provide conclusive evidence of chemical composition include odor, color, volume, density (mass per unit volume), melting point, boiling point, heat capacity, physical form and shape at room temperature (solid, liquid or gas; cubic, trigonal crystals, etc.), hardness, porosity, index of refraction and many others. This section discusses some physical properties of materials in
2626-420: Is also of prime importance in the conveyance of motor and sensory pathways from the rest of the brain to the body, and from the body back to the brain. These pathways include the corticospinal tract (motor function), the dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway ( fine touch , vibration sensation , and proprioception ), and the spinothalamic tract ( pain , temperature, itch, and crude touch ). The parts of
2727-469: Is caused by electrons, both electrons and holes contribute to current in semiconductors. Alternatively, ions support electric current in ionic conductors . Many materials also exhibit superconductivity at low temperatures; they include metallic elements such as tin and aluminium, various metallic alloys, some heavily doped semiconductors, and certain ceramics. The electrical resistivity of most electrical (metallic) conductors generally decreases gradually as
2828-416: Is commonly known as lumber or timber . In construction, wood is not only a structural material, but is also used to form the mould for concrete. Wood-based materials are also extensively used for packaging (e.g. cardboard) and paper, which are both created from the refined pulp. The chemical pulping processes use a combination of high temperature and alkaline (kraft) or acidic (sulfite) chemicals to break
2929-451: Is composed of paired cerebral peduncles . These transmit axons of upper motor neurons . The midbrain consists of: The pons lies between the midbrain and the medulla oblongata . It is separated from the midbrain by the superior pontine sulcus , and from the medulla by the inferior pontine sulcus . It contains tracts that carry signals from the cerebrum to the medulla and to the cerebellum and also tracts that carry sensory signals to
3030-428: Is involved in special sensation. Moving rostrally, the inferior, middle, and superior cerebellar peduncles are found connecting the midbrain to the cerebellum. Directly rostral to the superior cerebellar peduncle, there is the superior medullary velum and then the two trochlear nerves. This marks the end of the pons as the inferior colliculus is directly rostral and marks the caudal midbrain. Middle cerebellar peduncle
3131-404: Is located inferior and lateral to the superior cerebellar peduncle, connecting pons to the cerebellum. Likewise, inferior cerebellar peduncle is found connecting the medulla oblongata to the cerebellum. The main supply of blood to the brainstem is provided by the basilar arteries and the vertebral arteries . The human brainstem emerges from two of the three primary brain vesicles formed of
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3232-460: Is not directly coupled with frequency range. Georg Von Békésy in 1929 identifying sound source directions suggested humans can resolve timing differences of 10μs or less. In 1976 Jan Nordmark's research indicated inter-aural resolution better than 2μs. Milind Kuncher's 2007 research resolved time misalignment to under 10μs. Even though they do not have ears, invertebrates have developed other structures and systems to decode vibrations traveling through
3333-464: Is often ceramic. For example, a continuous matrix, and a dispersed phase of ceramic particles or fibers. Applications of composite materials range from structural elements such as steel-reinforced concrete, to the thermally insulative tiles that play a key and integral role in NASA's Space Shuttle thermal protection system , which is used to protect the surface of the shuttle from the heat of re-entry into
3434-409: Is the ability of crystals to generate a voltage in response to an applied mechanical stress. The piezoelectric effect is reversible in that piezoelectric crystals, when subjected to an externally applied voltage, can change shape by a small amount. Polymer materials like rubber, wool, hair, wood fiber, and silk often behave as electrets . For example, the polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) exhibits
3535-400: Is the study of the behavior of solid matter under external actions such as external forces and temperature changes. A solid does not exhibit macroscopic flow, as fluids do. Any degree of departure from its original shape is called deformation . The proportion of deformation to original size is called strain. If the applied stress is sufficiently low, almost all solid materials behave in such
3636-430: Is the use of devices designed to prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), a type of post-lingual hearing impairment . The various means used to prevent hearing loss generally focus on reducing the levels of noise to which people are exposed. One way this is done is through environmental modifications such as acoustic quieting , which may be achieved with as basic a measure as lining a room with curtains , or as complex
3737-493: Is typically considered to be between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz. Frequencies higher than audio are referred to as ultrasonic , while frequencies below audio are referred to as infrasonic . Some bats use ultrasound for echolocation while in flight. Dogs are able to hear ultrasound, which is the principle of 'silent' dog whistles . Snakes sense infrasound through their jaws, and baleen whales , giraffes , dolphins and elephants use it for communication. Some fish have
3838-483: Is used in capacitors. A capacitor is an electrical device that can store energy in the electric field between a pair of closely spaced conductors (called 'plates'). When voltage is applied to the capacitor, electric charges of equal magnitude, but opposite polarity, build up on each plate. Capacitors are used in electrical circuits as energy-storage devices, as well as in electronic filters to differentiate between high-frequency and low-frequency signals. Piezoelectricity
3939-403: The auditory nerve , which does produce action potentials. In this way, the patterns of oscillations on the basilar membrane are converted to spatiotemporal patterns of firings which transmit information about the sound to the brainstem . The sound information from the cochlea travels via the auditory nerve to the cochlear nucleus in the brainstem . From there, the signals are projected to
4040-403: The brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord . In the human brain the brainstem is composed of the midbrain , the pons , and the medulla oblongata . The midbrain is continuous with the thalamus of the diencephalon through the tentorial notch , and sometimes the diencephalon is included in the brainstem. The brainstem is very small, making up around only 2.6 percent of
4141-399: The cochlea , which is a spiral-shaped, fluid-filled tube. It is divided lengthwise by the organ of Corti , which is the main organ of mechanical to neural transduction . Inside the organ of Corti is the basilar membrane , a structure that vibrates when waves from the middle ear propagate through the cochlear fluid – endolymph . The basilar membrane is tonotopic , so that each frequency has
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4242-466: The diencephalon . The superior colliculus is positioned above the inferior colliculus, and marks the rostral midbrain. It is involved in the special sense of vision and sends its superior brachium to the lateral geniculate body of the diencephalon. The tegmentum which forms the floor of the midbrain, is ventral to the cerebral aqueduct . Several nuclei , tracts , and the reticular formation are contained here. The ventral tegmental area (VTA)
4343-474: The eardrum , also called the tympanic membrane. The pinna serves to focus sound waves through the ear canal toward the eardrum. Because of the asymmetrical character of the outer ear of most mammals, sound is filtered differently on its way into the ear depending on the location of its origin. This gives these animals the ability to localize sound vertically . The eardrum is an airtight membrane, and when sound waves arrive there, they cause it to vibrate following
4444-411: The inferior colliculus in the midbrain tectum . The inferior colliculus integrates auditory input with limited input from other parts of the brain and is involved in subconscious reflexes such as the auditory startle response . The inferior colliculus in turn projects to the medial geniculate nucleus , a part of the thalamus where sound information is relayed to the primary auditory cortex in
4545-510: The medullary pyramids . The pyramids contain the fibers of the corticospinal tract (also called the pyramidal tract), or the upper motor neuronal axons as they head inferiorly to synapse on lower motor neuronal cell bodies within the anterior grey column of the spinal cord . The anterolateral sulcus is lateral to the pyramids. Emerging from the anterolateral sulci are the CN XII ( hypoglossal nerve ) rootlets. Lateral to these rootlets and
4646-401: The neural tube . The mesencephalon is the second of the three primary vesicles, and does not further differentiate into a secondary brain vesicle . This will become the midbrain. The third primary vesicle, the rhombencephalon (hindbrain) will further differentiate into two secondary vesicles, the metencephalon and the myelencephalon . The metencephalon will become the cerebellum and
4747-409: The ossicles which include the malleus, incus, and stapes (also known as the hammer, anvil, and stirrup, respectively). They aid in the transmission of the vibrations from the eardrum into the inner ear, the cochlea . The purpose of the middle ear ossicles is to overcome the impedance mismatch between air waves and cochlear waves, by providing impedance matching . Also located in the middle ear are
4848-513: The periodic table moving diagonally downward right from boron . They separate the electrical conductors (or metals, to the left) from the insulators (to the right). Devices made from semiconductor materials are the foundation of modern electronics, including radio, computers, telephones, etc. Semiconductor devices include the transistor , solar cells , diodes and integrated circuits . Solar photovoltaic panels are large semiconductor devices that directly convert light into electrical energy. In
4949-452: The stapedius muscle and tensor tympani muscle , which protect the hearing mechanism through a stiffening reflex. The stapes transmits sound waves to the inner ear through the oval window , a flexible membrane separating the air-filled middle ear from the fluid-filled inner ear. The round window , another flexible membrane, allows for the smooth displacement of the inner ear fluid caused by the entering sound waves. The inner ear consists of
5050-416: The temporal lobe ). Like touch , audition requires sensitivity to the movement of molecules in the world outside the organism. Both hearing and touch are types of mechanosensation . There are three main components of the human auditory system : the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The outer ear includes the pinna , the visible part of the ear, as well as the ear canal , which terminates at
5151-1101: The temporal lobe . Sound is believed to first become consciously experienced at the primary auditory cortex . Around the primary auditory cortex lies Wernickes area , a cortical area involved in interpreting sounds that is necessary to understand spoken words. Disturbances (such as stroke or trauma ) at any of these levels can cause hearing problems, especially if the disturbance is bilateral . In some instances it can also lead to auditory hallucinations or more complex difficulties in perceiving sound. Hearing can be measured by behavioral tests using an audiometer . Electrophysiological tests of hearing can provide accurate measurements of hearing thresholds even in unconscious subjects. Such tests include auditory brainstem evoked potentials (ABR), otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and electrocochleography (ECochG). Technical advances in these tests have allowed hearing screening for infants to become widespread. Hearing can be measured by mobile applications which includes audiological hearing test function or hearing aid application . These applications allow
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#17327719766805252-451: The thalamus . The pons is connected to the cerebellum by the cerebellar peduncles . The pons houses the respiratory pneumotaxic center and apneustic center that make up the pontine respiratory group in the respiratory center . The pons co-ordinates activities of the cerebellar hemispheres . The pons and medulla oblongata are parts of the hindbrain that form much of the brainstem. The medulla oblongata , often just referred to as
5353-406: The waveform of the sound. Cerumen (ear wax) is produced by ceruminous and sebaceous glands in the skin of the human ear canal, protecting the ear canal and tympanic membrane from physical damage and microbial invasion. The middle ear consists of a small air-filled chamber that is located medial to the eardrum. Within this chamber are the three smallest bones in the body, known collectively as
5454-457: The Earth's atmosphere. One example is Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC), the light gray material that withstands reentry temperatures up to 1,510 °C (2,750 °F) and protects the nose cap and leading edges of Space Shuttle's wings. RCC is a laminated composite material made from graphite rayon cloth and impregnated with a phenolic resin . After curing at high temperature in an autoclave,
5555-547: The UK have developed in order to make the decision of when to stop ventilation of somebody who could not otherwise sustain life. These determining factors are that the patient is irreversibly unconscious and incapable of breathing unaided. All other possible causes must be ruled out that might otherwise indicate a temporary condition. The state of irreversible brain damage has to be unequivocal. There are brainstem reflexes that are checked for by two senior doctors so that imaging technology
5656-405: The ability to hear more sensitively due to a well-developed, bony connection between the ear and their swim bladder. This "aid to the deaf" for fishes appears in some species such as carp and herring . Human perception of audio signal time separation has been measured to less than 10 microseconds (10μs). This does not mean that frequencies above 100 kHz are audible, but that time discrimination
5757-427: The aerospace industry, high performance materials used in the design of aircraft and/or spacecraft exteriors must have a high resistance to thermal shock. Thus, synthetic fibers spun out of organic polymers and polymer/ceramic/metal composite materials and fiber-reinforced polymers are now being designed with this purpose in mind. Because solids have thermal energy , their atoms vibrate about fixed mean positions within
5858-566: The air, or “sound”. Charles Henry Turner was the first scientist to formally show this phenomenon through rigorously controlled experiments in ants. Turner ruled out the detection of ground vibration and suggested that other insects likely have auditory systems as well. Many insects detect sound through the way air vibrations deflect hairs along their body. Some insects have even developed specialized hairs tuned to detecting particular frequencies, such as certain caterpillar species that have evolved hair with properties such that it resonates most with
5959-538: The anterolateral sulci are the olives . The olives are swellings in the medulla containing underlying inferior nucleary nuclei (containing various nuclei and afferent fibers). Lateral (and dorsal) to the olives are the rootlets for CN IX ( glossopharyngeal ), CN X ( vagus ) and CN XI ( accessory nerve ). The pyramids end at the pontine medulla junction, noted most obviously by the large basal pons . From this junction, CN VI ( abducens nerve ), CN VII ( facial nerve ) and CN VIII ( vestibulocochlear nerve ) emerge. At
6060-444: The atoms in a solid can take a variety of forms. For example, a crystal of sodium chloride (common salt) is made up of ionic sodium and chlorine , which are held together by ionic bonds . In diamond or silicon, the atoms share electrons and form covalent bonds . In metals, electrons are shared in metallic bonding . Some solids, particularly most organic compounds, are held together with van der Waals forces resulting from
6161-432: The beginning of the central canal . The posterior intermediate sulcus separates the gracile fasciculus from the cuneate fasciculus. Lateral to the cuneate fasciculus is the lateral funiculus . Superior to the obex is the floor of the fourth ventricle . In the floor of the fourth ventricle, various nuclei can be visualized by the small bumps that they make in the overlying tissue. In the midline and directly superior to
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#17327719766806262-420: The brain's total weight. It has the critical roles of regulating heart and respiratory function, helping to control heart rate and breathing rate . It also provides the main motor and sensory nerve supply to the face and neck via the cranial nerves . Ten pairs of cranial nerves come from the brainstem. Other roles include the regulation of the central nervous system and the body's sleep cycle . It
6363-413: The brainstem are the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla oblongata; the diencephalon is sometimes considered part of the brainstem. The brainstem extends from just above the tentorial notch superiorly to the first cervical vertebra below the foramen magnum inferiorly. The midbrain is further subdivided into three parts: tectum , tegmentum , and the ventral tegmental area . The tectum forms
6464-428: The ceiling. The tectum comprises the paired structure of the superior and inferior colliculi and is the dorsal covering of the cerebral aqueduct . The inferior colliculus is the principal midbrain nucleus of the auditory pathway and receives input from several peripheral brainstem nuclei, as well as inputs from the auditory cortex. Its inferior brachium (arm-like process) reaches to the medial geniculate nucleus of
6565-663: The chemical bonds of the lignin before burning it out. One important property of carbon in organic chemistry is that it can form certain compounds, the individual molecules of which are capable of attaching themselves to one another, thereby forming a chain or a network. The process is called polymerization and the chains or networks polymers, while the source compound is a monomer. Two main groups of polymers exist: those artificially manufactured are referred to as industrial polymers or synthetic polymers (plastics) and those naturally occurring as biopolymers. Monomers can have various chemical substituents, or functional groups, which can affect
6666-467: The chemical properties of organic compounds, such as solubility and chemical reactivity, as well as the physical properties, such as hardness, density, mechanical or tensile strength, abrasion resistance, heat resistance, transparency, color, etc.. In proteins, these differences give the polymer the ability to adopt a biologically active conformation in preference to others (see self-assembly ). People have been using natural organic polymers for centuries in
6767-411: The early 1980s, Toyota researched production of an adiabatic ceramic engine with an operating temperature of over 6,000 °F (3,320 °C). Ceramic engines do not require a cooling system and hence allow a major weight reduction and therefore greater fuel efficiency. In a conventional metallic engine, much of the energy released from the fuel must be dissipated as waste heat in order to prevent
6868-578: The extreme hardness of zirconia is utilized in the manufacture of knife blades, as well as other industrial cutting tools. Ceramics such as alumina , boron carbide and silicon carbide have been used in bulletproof vests to repel large-caliber rifle fire. Silicon nitride parts are used in ceramic ball bearings, where their high hardness makes them wear resistant. In general, ceramics are also chemically resistant and can be used in wet environments where steel bearings would be susceptible to oxidation (or rust). As another example of ceramic applications, in
6969-420: The facial nerve nuclei. Instead, they have facial nerve axons traversing superficial to underlying abducens (CN VI) nuclei. Lateral to all these bumps previously discussed is an indented line, or sulcus that runs rostrally, and is known as the sulcus limitans . This separates the medial motor neurons from the lateral sensory neurons. Lateral to the sulcus limitans is the area of the vestibular system , which
7070-433: The form of waxes and shellac , which is classified as a thermoplastic polymer. A plant polymer named cellulose provided the tensile strength for natural fibers and ropes, and by the early 19th century natural rubber was in widespread use. Polymers are the raw materials (the resins) used to make what are commonly called plastics. Plastics are the final product, created after one or more polymers or additives have been added to
7171-459: The function of cranial nerves that may lead to visual disturbances, pupil abnormalities, changes in sensation, muscle weakness, hearing problems, vertigo, swallowing and speech difficulty, voice change, and co-ordination problems. Localizing neurological lesions in the brainstem may be very precise, although it relies on a clear understanding on the functions of brainstem anatomical structures and how to test them. Brainstem stroke syndrome can cause
7272-535: The glass-ceramic has a net coefficient of thermal expansion close to zero. This type of glass-ceramic exhibits excellent mechanical properties and can sustain repeated and quick temperature changes up to 1000 °C. Glass ceramics may also occur naturally when lightning strikes the crystalline (e.g. quartz) grains found in most beach sand . In this case, the extreme and immediate heat of the lightning (~2500 °C) creates hollow, branching rootlike structures called fulgurite via fusion . Organic chemistry studies
7373-673: The gold slabs (1064 °C); and metallic nanowires are much stronger than the corresponding bulk metals. The high surface area of nanoparticles makes them extremely attractive for certain applications in the field of energy. For example, platinum metals may provide improvements as automotive fuel catalysts , as well as proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Also, ceramic oxides (or cermets) of lanthanum , cerium , manganese and nickel are now being developed as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Lithium, lithium-titanate and tantalum nanoparticles are being applied in lithium-ion batteries. Silicon nanoparticles have been shown to dramatically expand
7474-556: The incoming light prior to capture. Here again, surface area of the nanoparticles (and thin films) plays a critical role in maximizing the amount of absorbed radiation. Many natural (or biological) materials are complex composites with remarkable mechanical properties. These complex structures, which have risen from hundreds of million years of evolution, are inspiring materials scientists in the design of novel materials. Their defining characteristics include structural hierarchy, multifunctionality and self-healing capability. Self-organization
7575-448: The ions and the electron cloud. The large number of free electrons gives metals their high values of electrical and thermal conductivity. The free electrons also prevent transmission of visible light, making metals opaque, shiny and lustrous . More advanced models of metal properties consider the effect of the positive ions cores on the delocalised electrons. As most metals have crystalline structure, those ions are usually arranged into
7676-499: The laminate is pyrolized to convert the resin to carbon, impregnated with furfural alcohol in a vacuum chamber, and cured/pyrolized to convert the furfural alcohol to carbon. In order to provide oxidation resistance for reuse capability, the outer layers of the RCC are converted to silicon carbide. Domestic examples of composites can be seen in the "plastic" casings of television sets, cell-phones and so on. These plastic casings are usually
7777-459: The level of the midpons, CN V (the trigeminal nerve ) emerges. Cranial nerve III (the oculomotor nerve ) emerges ventrally from the midbrain, while the CN IV (the trochlear nerve ) emerges out from the dorsal aspect of the midbrain. Between the two pyramids can be seen a decussation of fibers which marks the transition from the medulla to the spinal cord. The medulla is above the decussation and
7878-440: The major component is a metal are known as alloys . People have been using metals for a variety of purposes since prehistoric times. The strength and reliability of metals has led to their widespread use in construction of buildings and other structures, as well as in most vehicles, many appliances and tools, pipes, road signs and railroad tracks. Iron and aluminium are the two most commonly used structural metals. They are also
7979-418: The matrix properties. A synergism produces material properties unavailable from the individual constituent materials, while the wide variety of matrix and strengthening materials provides the designer with the choice of an optimum combination. Semiconductors are materials that have an electrical resistivity (and conductivity) between that of metallic conductors and non-metallic insulators. They can be found in
8080-436: The medulla at the pontomedullary junction. This region is supplied by the joining of the basilar , vertebral arteries . The posterior inferior cerebellar artery also joins from which a large number of perforating arteries arise. Lateral spinal arteries also emerge to supply the posterior surface of the medulla oblongata. In the medial part of the medulla is the anterior median fissure . Moving laterally on each side are
8181-418: The medulla, is the lower half of the brainstem continuous with the spinal cord. Its upper part is continuous with the pons. The medulla contains the cardiac , dorsal and ventral respiratory groups , and vasomotor centres, dealing with heart rate , breathing and blood pressure . Another important medullary structure is the area postrema whose functions include the control of vomiting . The pons meets
8282-427: The midbrain. The nuclei of the trigeminal nerve (V), abducens nerve (VI), facial nerve (VII) and vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII) are located in the pons. The nuclei of the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX), vagus nerve (X), accessory nerve (XI) and hypoglossal nerve (XII) are located in the medulla. The fibers of these cranial nerves exit the brainstem from these nuclei. Diseases of the brainstem can result in abnormalities in
8383-408: The molecules in a gas are loosely packed. The branch of physics that deals with solids is called solid-state physics , and is the main branch of condensed matter physics (which also includes liquids). Materials science is primarily concerned with the physical and chemical properties of solids. Solid-state chemistry is especially concerned with the synthesis of novel materials, as well as
8484-734: The most abundant metals in the Earth's crust . Iron is most commonly used in the form of an alloy, steel, which contains up to 2.1% carbon , making it much harder than pure iron. Because metals are good conductors of electricity, they are valuable in electrical appliances and for carrying an electric current over long distances with little energy loss or dissipation. Thus, electrical power grids rely on metal cables to distribute electricity. Home electrical systems, for example, are wired with copper for its good conducting properties and easy machinability. The high thermal conductivity of most metals also makes them useful for stovetop cooking utensils. The study of metallic elements and their alloys makes up
8585-456: The obex is the vagal trigone and superior to that it the hypoglossal trigone . Underlying each of these are motor nuclei for the respective cranial nerves. Superior to these trigones are fibers running laterally in both directions. These fibers are known collectively as the striae medullares . Continuing in a rostral direction, the large bumps are called the facial colliculi. Each facial colliculus , contrary to their names, do not contain
8686-409: The ordered (or disordered) lattice. The spectrum of lattice vibrations in a crystalline or glassy network provides the foundation for the kinetic theory of solids . This motion occurs at the atomic level, and thus cannot be observed or detected without highly specialized equipment, such as that used in spectroscopy . Thermal properties of solids include thermal conductivity , which is the property of
8787-433: The polarization of the electronic charge cloud on each molecule. The dissimilarities between the types of solid result from the differences between their bonding. Metals typically are strong, dense, and good conductors of both electricity and heat . The bulk of the elements in the periodic table , those to the left of a diagonal line drawn from boron to polonium , are metals. Mixtures of two or more elements in which
8888-464: The pons. The more caudal myelencephalon will become the medulla . The brainstem plays important functions in breathing , heart rate , arousal / consciousness , sleep / wake functions and attention / concentration. There are three main functions of the brainstem: Ten of the twelve pairs of cranial nerves either target or are sourced from the brainstem nuclei. The nuclei of the oculomotor nerve (III) and trochlear nerve (IV) are located in
8989-499: The production of polycrystalline transparent ceramics such as transparent alumina and alumina compounds for such applications as high-power lasers. Advanced ceramics are also used in the medicine, electrical and electronics industries. Ceramic engineering is the science and technology of creating solid-state ceramic materials, parts and devices. This is done either by the action of heat, or, at lower temperatures, using precipitation reactions from chemical solutions. The term includes
9090-439: The purification of raw materials, the study and production of the chemical compounds concerned, their formation into components, and the study of their structure, composition and properties. Mechanically speaking, ceramic materials are brittle, hard, strong in compression and weak in shearing and tension. Brittle materials may exhibit significant tensile strength by supporting a static load. Toughness indicates how much energy
9191-480: The science of identification and chemical composition . The atoms, molecules or ions that make up solids may be arranged in an orderly repeating pattern, or irregularly. Materials whose constituents are arranged in a regular pattern are known as crystals . In some cases, the regular ordering can continue unbroken over a large scale, for example diamonds, where each diamond is a single crystal . Solid objects that are large enough to see and handle are rarely composed of
9292-527: The solid state. The mechanical properties of materials describe characteristics such as their strength and resistance to deformation. For example, steel beams are used in construction because of their high strength, meaning that they neither break nor bend significantly under the applied load. Mechanical properties include elasticity , plasticity , tensile strength , compressive strength , shear strength , fracture toughness , ductility (low in brittle materials) and indentation hardness . Solid mechanics
9393-482: The sound of buzzing wasps, thus warning them of the presence of natural enemies. Some insects possess a tympanal organ . These are "eardrums", that cover air filled chambers on the legs. Similar to the hearing process with vertebrates, the eardrums react to sonar waves. Receptors that are placed on the inside translate the oscillation into electric signals and send them to the brain. Several groups of flying insects that are preyed upon by echolocating bats can perceive
9494-424: The spinal cord below. The most medial part of the medulla is the posterior median sulcus . Moving laterally on each side is the gracile fasciculus , and lateral to that is the cuneate fasciculus . Superior to each of these, and directly inferior to the obex , are the gracile and cuneate tubercles, respectively. Underlying these are their respective nuclei. The obex marks the end of the fourth ventricle and
9595-479: The storage capacity of lithium-ion batteries during the expansion/contraction cycle. Silicon nanowires cycle without significant degradation and present the potential for use in batteries with greatly expanded storage times. Silicon nanoparticles are also being used in new forms of solar energy cells. Thin film deposition of silicon quantum dots on the polycrystalline silicon substrate of a photovoltaic (solar) cell increases voltage output as much as 60% by fluorescing
9696-442: The structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation by synthesis (or other means) of chemical compounds of carbon and hydrogen , which may contain any number of other elements such as nitrogen , oxygen and the halogens: fluorine , chlorine , bromine and iodine . Some organic compounds may also contain the elements phosphorus or sulfur . Examples of organic solids include wood, paraffin wax , naphthalene and
9797-492: The surface. Unlike a liquid, a solid object does not flow to take on the shape of its container, nor does it expand to fill the entire available volume like a gas. The atoms in a solid are bound to each other, either in a regular geometric lattice ( crystalline solids , which include metals and ordinary ice ), or irregularly (an amorphous solid such as common window glass). Solids cannot be compressed with little pressure whereas gases can be compressed with little pressure because
9898-508: The temperature is lowered, but remains finite. In a superconductor, however, the resistance drops abruptly to zero when the material is cooled below its critical temperature. An electric current flowing in a loop of superconducting wire can persist indefinitely with no power source. A dielectric , or electrical insulator, is a substance that is highly resistant to the flow of electric current. A dielectric, such as plastic, tends to concentrate an applied electric field within itself, which property
9999-413: The ultrasound emissions this way and reflexively practice ultrasound avoidance . Solid Solid is one of the four fundamental states of matter along with liquid , gas , and plasma . The molecules in a solid are closely packed together and contain the least amount of kinetic energy. A solid is characterized by structural rigidity (as in rigid bodies ) and resistance to a force applied to
10100-494: The user to measure hearing thresholds at different frequencies ( audiogram ). Despite possible errors in measurements, hearing loss can be detected. There are several different types of hearing loss: conductive hearing loss , sensorineural hearing loss and mixed types. Recently, the term of Aural Diversity has come into greater use, to communicate hearing loss and differences in a less negatively-associated term. There are defined degrees of hearing loss: Hearing protection
10201-464: The wear plates of crushing equipment in mining operations. Most ceramic materials, such as alumina and its compounds, are formed from fine powders, yielding a fine grained polycrystalline microstructure that is filled with light-scattering centers comparable to the wavelength of visible light . Thus, they are generally opaque materials, as opposed to transparent materials . Recent nanoscale (e.g. sol-gel ) technology has, however, made possible
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