Final answer:
The tectorial membrane is located in the inner ear within the cochlea. It vibrates in response to sound waves conducted from the middle ear through the fluid in the cochlea, initiating the hearing process by stimulating hair cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tectorial membrane is located in the inner ear, specifically within the cochlea. It plays a crucial role in the process of hearing. When sound enters the ear and causes the eardrum to vibrate, these vibrations are conducted through the ossicles of the middle ear to the fluid-filled cochlea. As the stapes vibrate against the oval window, pressure waves are generated in the cochlear fluid, causing the tectorial membrane to vibrate. This movement stimulates the tiny cilia on the hair cells, which in turn initiates the transformation of mechanical sound vibrations into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain, allowing us to perceive sound.