Which sensory receptors are involved in hearing?
Photoreceptors
Chemoreceptors
Mechanoreceptors
Thermoreceptors
The sensory receptors involved in hearing are mechanoreceptors. These receptors are specifically called hair cells, which are found in the inner ear. Hair cells detect and respond to mechanical vibrations caused by sound waves.
The sensory receptors involved in hearing are mechanoreceptors. These receptors are specifically known as auditory receptors and are located in the ear. They respond to mechanical vibrations caused by sound waves, converting them into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain.
The sensory receptors involved in hearing are called mechanoreceptors. These receptors are specifically designed to detect mechanical stimuli, such as vibrations or pressure waves, and convert them into electrical signals that can be interpreted by our brain as sound.
To understand how mechanoreceptors work in the context of hearing, it is important to know the structure of the ear. The ear consists of three main parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear.
1. Outer Ear: The outer ear includes the pinna (the external part of the ear) and the ear canal. Its main function is to collect sound waves from the environment and direct them towards the middle ear.
2. Middle Ear: The middle ear is a small, air-filled chamber located between the eardrum and the inner ear. It contains three tiny bones called ossicles: the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup). When sound waves reach the eardrum, they cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted through the ossicles, intensifying the sound.
3. Inner Ear: The inner ear is where the mechanoreceptors responsible for hearing are located. It consists of the cochlea, a spiral-shaped structure filled with fluid. Within the cochlea, there are hair cells, specialized mechanoreceptors that line the basilar membrane. These hair cells have tiny hair-like projections called stereocilia.
When sound vibrations reach the cochlea, they cause the fluid inside it to move, which in turn creates waves that travel along the basilar membrane. As these waves travel, they cause the stereocilia on the hair cells to bend. This movement of the stereocilia triggers the hair cells to convert the mechanical stimulation into electrical signals. These electrical signals are then transmitted to the brain through the auditory nerve, where they are interpreted as sound.
In summary, mechanoreceptors, specifically the hair cells found in the cochlea of the inner ear, are responsible for detecting and converting sound waves into electrical signals that our brain can interpret as sound.