Final answer:
The basilar membrane is the membrane that runs along the floor of the scala media which houses the hair cells involved in hearing. These hair cells are in contact with the tectorial membrane, and together they facilitate the conversion of sound wave-induced vibrations into neural signals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The membrane that runs along the floor of the scala media on which the hair cells sit is known as the basilar membrane. Attached to the organ of Corti, this membrane supports the hair cells that are essential for the process of hearing. The hair cells which contain the hair-like projections called stereocilia sense the vibrations caused by sound waves. These stereocilia are in contact with another membrane, the tectorial membrane, which lies above them, and it plays a crucial role in the sensorineural transduction process.
When sound waves enter the ear, they create fluid waves in the scala vestibuli and scala tympani, causing the basilar membrane to move. This motion leads to a relative movement between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The sterocilia are deflected by this relative movement, and depending on the direction of their bend, ion channels within the hair cells will either open or close. The opening of these ion channels leads to depolarization of the hair cell membranes, resulting in the transmission of nerve impulses through the cochlear nerve, allowing the brain to perceive sound.
Hence, the basilar membrane and the tectorial membrane play significant roles in the auditory system by providing the necessary structure for the hair cells to transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical signals understood by the brain.