Final answer:
The inner ear is composed of a bony labyrinth and has two separate regions, the cochlea and the vestibule. The cochlea is responsible for hearing and the vestibule is responsible for balance. Sound is converted into neural signals in the cochlear region of the inner ear.
Step-by-step explanation:
The inner ear is often described as a bony labyrinth, as it is composed of a series of canals embedded within the temporal bone. It has two separate regions, the cochlea and the vestibule, which are responsible for hearing and balance, respectively. Sound is transduced into neural signals within the cochlear region of the inner ear, which contains the sensory neurons of the spiral ganglia.