tympanum

Term: tympanum (plural, tympana)

Literally meaning: a drum or, the stretched membrane of a drum

Origin: Anc Greek
τύπτω/typto (=beat, strike, hit)
+um(=latin suffix that forms singular nouns)

Coined/History
The tympanum resembles the head of a tiny drum

Definition
 (anatomy) Tympanum is the thin tympanic membrane (eardrum) which separates the middle ear from the external ear.  Its function is to transmit sound waves from the air to the ossicles inside the middle ear.


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