Final answer:
The tympanic membrane is NOT a part of the organ of Corti; it is part of the outer ear and vibrates in response to sound waves but is not involved in the transduction process within the cochlea.
Step-by-step explanation:
The organ of Corti is essential for hearing and is located in the cochlea of the inner ear. It is responsible for transducing mechanical sound vibrations into electrical signals that the brain interprets as sound. The organ of Corti consists of several vital components, including:
- Hair cells which are the sensory receptors responsible for converting mechanical sound waves into nerve signals.
- Basilar membrane, which supports the hair cells and moves in response to sound vibrations, facilitating the bending of stereocilia on hair cells.
- Tectorial membrane, a membrane that the stereocilia of the outer hair cells attach to and against which the stereocilia bend during sound transduction.
- Deiters's cells, which provide structural support to the outer hair cells.
The component that is NOT a part of the organ of Corti is the tympanic membrane (3). The tympanic membrane, or eardrum, is part of the outer ear and vibrates in response to sound waves; it is not part of the organ of Corti within the cochlea.