Final answer:
The oval window transmits vibrations from the middle ear into the inner ear's cochlea, a fluid-filled structure that facilitates hearing by transforming vibrations into neural signals through the organ of Corti.
Step-by-step explanation:
The oval window transmits vibrations into the inner ear, specifically into a bony tube called the cochlea. The cochlea is a fluid-filled structure that is central to the process of hearing. Vibrations from the oval window are passed into the scala vestibuli, a chamber within the cochlea, which then sends them through the fluid-filled cochlear duct. Sound waves travel through the cochlea in a wave-like motion, ultimately bending hair cells in the organ of Corti which in turn transduce the mechanical energy into electrical signals, enabling the perception of sound.
As the stapes vibrates against the oval window, pressure waves travel through the cochlea's fluid, vibrating the tectorial membrane and bending cilia of the sensory cells. This mechanical stimulation is converted into neural signals, which are sent to the brain, facilitating our ability to hear.
The inner ear is sometimes referred to as a bony labyrinth, consisting of the cochlea for hearing and the vestibule for balance. These signals travel via the vestibulocochlear nerve to the brain stem, allowing the brain to interpret sound.