Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Eardrum and Sound Transmission
The eardrum, or tympanic membrane, is a thin membrane that vibrates in response to sound waves. When sound waves hit the eardrum, these vibrations are transmitted to the ossicles, a chain of three tiny bones in the middle ear. This process amplifies the sound and converts it into mechanical energy, which is essential for further transmission to the inner ear.
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Ossicles and Their Function
The ossicles consist of three bones: the malleus, incus, and stapes. These bones work together to amplify and transfer the vibrations from the eardrum to the oval window of the cochlea in the inner ear. The stapes, being the last bone in the chain, acts like a piston, pushing on the oval window and creating fluid waves in the cochlea, which are crucial for stimulating the hair cells.
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Organ of Corti and Hair Cells
The organ of Corti is located within the cochlea and contains hair cells that are the sensory receptors for hearing. When fluid waves generated by the stapes' movement reach the organ of Corti, they cause the hair cells to bend. This bending opens ion channels, leading to the generation of electrical signals that are sent to the brain, allowing us to perceive sound.
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