Which sensory receptors are involved in hearing
To determine which sensory receptors are involved in hearing, we need to understand the steps involved in the process of hearing.
1. Sound waves are first collected by the outer ear, also known as the pinna or auricle. They travel through the ear canal until they reach the eardrum or tympanic membrane.
2. The eardrum vibrates when struck by sound waves, and these vibrations are transferred to the three tiny bones in the middle ear: the malleus, incus, and stapes.
3. The malleus, incus, and stapes amplify and transmit the vibrations to the inner ear, which is shaped like a snail shell and contains fluid-filled structures called the cochlea.
4. Within the cochlea, there are specialized sensory receptors called hair cells. These hair cells convert the mechanical vibrations into electrical signals.
5. The electrical signals are then transmitted from the hair cells to the auditory nerve, which carries the signals to the brain for processing and interpretation.
Therefore, the sensory receptors involved in hearing are the hair cells located in the cochlea of the inner ear.