Final answer:
Mechanoreceptors in the cochlea of the ear respond to the mechanical energy from sound waves, such as a receptionist's voice, allowing us to hear and interpret sounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of receptors in the ear that respond to the receptionist's voice are mechanoreceptors. These sensory receptors are responsible for converting mechanical energy from sound waves into nerve impulses that the brain can interpret. Mechanoreceptors in the ear are specifically located in the cochlea, which is a part of the inner ear. When sound waves enter the ear, they are transmitted through the auditory pathway, causing the mechanoreceptors in the cochlea to be stimulated. This process allows us to hear and interpret sounds such as voices.
Nociceptors are responsible for transducing pain stimuli, not sound. The tympanum, also known as the eardrum, vibrates in response to sound waves but does not contain the receptors for transduction. The pinna helps to capture sound waves and direct them into the ear canal but does not contain the transductive receptors. The stapes, one of the auditory ossicles, help in the conduction of sound vibrations to the cochlea, but the mechanoreceptors for hearing are within the cochlea itself.