Question

Describe how sound waves that cause vibration of the basilar membrane transduce into an electrical signal to the brain.

Answer 1

sound waves that cause vibration of the basilar membrane transduce into an electrical signal to the brain.

we can see that our ear is classified into three aspects outer ear , middle ear and inner ear.

outer ear - pinna, helix, lobule and ear drum (tympanum)

middle ear - Auditory ossicles ( malleus , incus , stapes) and oval window

inner ear - Cochlea,semicircular canals and vestibular nerve

First the sound came as the waves from the external ear , It will travels through the pinna (external ear) and reaches the ear drum . Ear drum is also know as tympanum which is the end of the auditory canal.

when it reaches the ear drum as the vibration, then the vibration will travels to the middle ear , In there we can see structure called auditory ossicles, which consists of malleus,strapes and incus . There are small structure of bones which is further connected to the oval window of the inner ear.

the vibration from the external ear will received by the bones of the auditory ossicles, then the function of the auditory ossicles to multiply the vibration received , because middle ear is filled with air cavity, so it can multiply or increase the vibration .

Then it travels to the oval window to the inner ear of cochlea( it is fluid filled area) ,it consists of basilar membrane. From there the vibration is detected by the receptors called stereocilla and it is responsible for the auditory trasduction. Then there will be nerve impulses carried by the vestibular nerve to the brain. As the electrical signal.