Final answer:
The acoustic organ, known as the organ of Corti, is responsible for converting airborne vibrations into neural signals within the ear. It uses hair cells in the cochlea to translate sound wave-induced vibrations into electrochemical signals that our brains understand as sound.
Step-by-step explanation:
The acoustic organ, also known as the organ of Corti, transduces airborne vibrations into neural signals. In this process, sound waves created by vibrating objects reach the external ear and travel to the tympanic membrane, causing it to vibrate. These vibrations are transmitted through the ossicles of the middle ear and pushed into the cochlea via the oval window.
The cochlea, a snail-shaped structure filled with fluid, contains the organ of Corti. This organ is composed of hair cells that have stereocilia extending into or near the tectorial membrane. As the basilar membrane moves in response to sound wave-induced fluid waves in the cochlea, the hair cells bend. This mechanical deformation opens ion channels, leading to the depolarization of the hair cell membranes and generating nerve impulses that are carried to the brain by the cochlear nerve.
The intensity of sound is determined by the number of hair cells stimulated at a specific location on the basilar membrane, which differs for various frequencies of sound. This incredible system allows us to perceive a wide range of sounds, turning mechanical energy into the signals our brains interpret as hearing.