Hearing involves specialized sensory receptors known as hair cells, which are located in the cochlea of the inner ear. Here’s a brief overview of how these receptors work in the auditory system:
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Sound Waves: Sound waves enter the ear through the outer ear and travel through the ear canal to the eardrum, causing it to vibrate.
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Middle Ear: These vibrations are transmitted through the ossicles (tiny bones in the middle ear) to the oval window of the cochlea.
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Cochlea: The cochlea is a spiral-shaped organ filled with fluid. The movement of the oval window creates waves in the cochlear fluid, which in turn creates pressure changes.
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Hair Cells: Inside the cochlea, the hair cells are located on the basilar membrane. As the fluid moves, it causes the basilar membrane to vibrate. The movement of the membrane bends the hair cells, which have tiny hair-like projections called stereocilia.
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Transduction: When the hair cells bend, they open ion channels, leading to a change in the electrical potential of the cells. This process converts mechanical energy from sound waves into electrical signals.
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Auditory Nerve: These electrical signals are transmitted through the auditory nerve to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound.
Overall, the primary receptors involved in hearing are the hair cells within the cochlea, which play a crucial role in converting sound vibrations into neural signals.
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