Which structure is responsible for converting sound vibrations into neural signals?

The cochlea is the structure responsible for converting sound vibrations into neural signals. It is a spiral-shaped, fluid-filled organ located in the inner ear. When sound waves enter the ear, they travel through the auditory canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted through the ossicles (which include the stapes, incus, and malleus) and ultimately reach the oval window, a membrane-covered opening that leads to the cochlea.

Within the cochlea, the vibrations cause the fluid inside to ripple, which in turn stimulates hair cells located on the basilar membrane. These hair cells convert the mechanical energy of the vibrations into electrical signals that are sent through the auditory nerve to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound. This process is essential for hearing, and the cochlea plays a central role in transforming physical sound waves into the complex signals the brain can understand.