Middle ear peak sensitivity to frequencies between 1 kHz and 3 kHz. The movement of the ossicles may be stiffened by two muscles. The stapedius muscle, the smallest skeletal muscle in the body, connects to the stapes and is controlled by the facial nerve; the tensor tympani muscle connects to the base of the malleus and is under the control of the medial pterygoid nerve which is a branch of the mandibular nerve of the trigeminal nerve. These muscles contract in response to loud sounds, thereby reducing the transmission of sound to the inner ear. This is called the acoustic reflex. Of
The Human Body (TV series) The Human Body (TV series) The Human Body is a seven-part documentary series, first shown on 20 May 1998 on BBC One and presented by medical scientist Robert Winston. A co-production between the BBC and The Learning Channel, the series looks at the mechanics and emotions of the human body from birth to death. The series was nominated for numerous awards, winning several, including three BAFTA awards, four RTS awards and a Peabody Award. Described as the BBC's "first major TV series on human biology", it took over two years to make and aimed to be the definitive set of