Final answer:
Auditory reception is the passive physiological process by which sound is transmitted to the brain, primarily through the action of the cochlea which transduces sound waves into neural signals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passive physiological process of sound transmission to the brain is known as auditory reception. This process involves the transduction of sound waves into neural signals within the structures of the ear. Specifically, the cochlea, a fluid-filled, snail-shaped structure, contains sensory receptor cells that transduce mechanical waves from sound into electrical signals. These signals are then transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve. A cochlear implant is an electronic device that can directly stimulate the auditory nerve to transmit information to the brain, bypassing nonfunctional parts of the ear.
In the context of hearing and auditory reception, the ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes) play a critical role in the middle ear, transferring vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear. The cochlea then accomplishes the sensory transduction that allows us to perceive sound. Conductive hearing loss refers to issues with the vibration of the eardrum or movement of the ossicles, while sensorineural hearing loss deals with the transmission of auditory nerve impulses to the brain.