Final answer:
The axons of bipolar sensory neurons from the spiral organ form the cochlear nerve, which transmits auditory information to the brain and plays a pivotal role in the process of hearing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The axons of bipolar sensory neurons leave the spiral organ to form the cochlear nerve, also known as the auditory nerve. This nerve is critical for transmitting auditory information from the cochlea in the inner ear to the brain, allowing us to process sounds. The cochlear nerve is part of the vestibulocochlear nerve, which is responsible for both hearing (via the cochlear nerve) and balance (via the vestibular nerve). Higher processing of this auditory information involves connections with various parts of the brain, such as the cochlear nucleus, pons, thalamus, cerebellum, and the primary somatosensory cortex.