A nurse is evaluating a patient’s sensory function.
Which of the following sensory stimuli is primarily associated with the tactile system?

Choice A rationale

Vibration of the eardrum is not directly transmitted to the eighth cranial nerve, bypassing the inner ear structures. The vibrations from the eardrum are first transmitted through the ossicles (tiny bones in the middle ear) to the cochlea in the inner ear.

Choice B rationale

Sound waves enter the ear canal, but they are not directly converted to electrical impulses. The sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate, and these vibrations are transmitted through the ossicles to the cochlea, where they are converted into electrical signals that are sent to the brain via the eighth cranial nerve.

Choice C rationale

Vibration of the eardrum transmits through the bony ossicles to the perilymph in the inner ear, stimulating the eighth cranial nerve. This is the correct description of the process of hearing.

Choice D rationale

Sound is not transmitted directly from the eardrum to the brain. The sound-induced vibrations of the eardrum are transmitted through the ossicles to the cochlea, where they are converted into electrical signals that are sent to the brain via the eighth cranial nerve.

A pale stoma can indicate poor blood flow, which is a serious concern that should be reported to the provider immediately. A healthy stoma should be moist and dark red or pink in color.