Final answer:
The cochlea in the inner ear is the transducer for converting sound vibrations to nerve impulses, through the mediation of the organ of Corti and hair cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the inner ear, the transducer that converts vibrations caused by sound to nerve impulses is the cochlea. Sound waves received by the ear cause vibrations that travel from the tympanic membrane through the ossicles and onto the oval window. The stapes, which is one of the ossicles, vibrates against the oval window, creating pressure waves within the cochlear fluid. Inside the cochlea, the pressure waves displace the basilar membrane, which bends the hair cells. When these hair cells are bent, they convert the mechanical energy into electrical signals within the organ of Corti. These electrical signals, or nerve impulses, are then transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve.