Final answer:
The cochlea is a coiled, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear that is responsible for changing mechanical sound vibrations and positional information into nerve impulses that travel to the brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cochlea is a coiled, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear that is responsible for changing mechanical sound vibrations and positional information into nerve impulses that travel to the brain. It is part of the inner ear, which is composed of a series of canals embedded within the temporal bone. The cochlea contains the sensory neurons of the spiral ganglia and plays a crucial role in the process of hearing.