The statement "The tensor tympani and stapedius muscles are important in protecting hearing by decreasing conduction by the ear ossicles when a thunderstorm creates loud noise" is FALSE.
Explanation:
1. The tensor tympani and stapedius muscles are small muscles in the middle ear.
2. These muscles are involved in the acoustic reflex, a protective mechanism that helps to dampen loud sounds to prevent damage to the inner ear.
3. When exposed to loud noises, such as during a thunderstorm, these muscles contract to reduce the transmission of sound through the ossicles (small bones in the middle ear) to the inner ear.
4. This reflex helps to protect the delicate structures of the inner ear from being overwhelmed by excessively loud sounds.
5. Therefore, the tensor tympani and stapedius muscles play a role in protecting hearing by reducing the transmission of loud sounds, not by decreasing conduction by the ear ossicles specifically during a thunderstorm.
In conclusion, while the tensor tympani and stapedius muscles do play a role in protecting hearing from loud noises, the statement regarding thunderstorms and conduction by the ear ossicles is not accurate.
