Final answer:
The part of the human ear that is a fluid-filled, snail-shaped, bony tube is the cochlea(option a). It is responsible for converting sound wave vibrations into nerve impulses that the brain can interpret as sound.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked which part of the human ear is a bony tube, curled like a snail's shell, and filled with fluid. The answer to this question is a. Cochlea. The cochlea is a component of the inner ear and is responsible for converting the mechanical energy of sound waves into nerve impulses which are then sent to the brain.
It is about 3 mm in diameter and 3 cm long when uncoiled. As the stapes bone in the middle ear vibrates against the oval window, it creates pressure waves that travel through the fluid within the cochlea, causing the bending of cilia on the hair cells, leading to the stimulation of nerves in the organ of Corti. The auditory nerve then transfers these signals to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound.