Question

The organ of Corti lies on the basilar membrane of the cochlea and is bathed in the endolymph contained in the scala media. What is the organ of Corti?

1) A structure in the inner ear responsible for hearing
2) A structure in the eye responsible for vision
3) A structure in the nose responsible for smell
4) A structure in the tongue responsible for taste

Answer 1

The organ of Corti is a structure in the inner ear responsible for hearing. It contains hair cells that transduce sound waves into electrochemical signals, which are transmitted to the auditory nerve.

Step-by-step explanation:

The organ of Corti is a structure in the inner ear responsible for hearing. It is composed of hair cells that transduce movements from sound waves into electrochemical signals. The organ of Corti lies on the basilar membrane of the cochlea and is bathed in the endolymph contained in the scala media. When pressure waves from the scala move the basilar membrane, the hair cells in the organ of Corti respond by opening ion channels, which triggers nerve impulses that travel down the auditory nerve.