It then passes through its own canal, and ends in the tympanic cavity as a slim tendon that connects to the handle of the malleus.

The tendon makes a sharp bend around the processus cochleariformis, part of the wall of its cavity, before it joins with the malleus.

[1] The tensor tympani receives blood from the middle meningeal artery via the superior tympanic branch.

The rumbling sound can also be heard when the neck or jaw muscles are highly tensed as when yawning deeply.

The reflex has a response time of 40 milliseconds, not fast enough to protect the ear from sudden loud noises such as an explosion or gunshot.

Thus, the reflex most likely developed to protect early humans from loud thunder claps which do not happen in a split second.

In many people with hyperacusis, an increased activity develops in the tensor tympani muscle in the middle ear as part of the startle response to some sounds.

This study appears to be the first to provide experimental support suggesting that middle ear muscles (MEM) may behave abnormally after an acoustic shock.