Final answer:
The cochlea is a coiled, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear containing the organ of Corti, which is critical for converting sound vibrations into nerve impulses that travel to the brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The coiled, three-chambered tube in the inner ear which contains the organ of Corti is known as the cochlea. It is a fluid-filled structure that plays a crucial role in the process of hearing. Sound vibrations enter the cochlea and create pressure waves in the perilymph. These waves bend the cilia on the hair cells within the organ of Corti, generating nerve impulses that travel to the brain via the auditory nerve, allowing us to perceive sound.
The cochlear duct is the space within the cochlea adjacent to the scala tympani and scala vestibuli on either side. Here lies the organ of Corti, which contains the mechanoreceptor hair cells critical for converting mechanical vibrations into electrical signals that our brain can interpret as sound.