How does bone-conduction transmit sound?

How does bone-conduction transmit sound?

• A. Vibrations of skull bones transmit energy directly to the temporal bone and cochlear fluids, bypassing the outer ear.
• B. Sound travels through air to the tympanic membrane.
• C. The auditory nerve directly senses air pressure changes.
• D. Sound is generated in the cochlea by chemical signals.

Answer: (A)

Bone conduction transmits sound by vibrating the skull so energy moves directly into the inner ear, especially through the temporal bone into the cochlear fluids. Those skull vibrations set the cochlear fluids and basilar membrane in motion, deflecting hair cells and generating neural signals that travel via the auditory nerve to the brain. Because the energy travels through bone rather than through the air to the tympanic membrane, the outer and middle ears are bypassed. The auditory nerve doesn’t respond to air pressure changes directly, and the cochlea doesn’t generate sound—it transduces mechanical energy into neural signals.

Bone conduction transmits sound by vibrating the skull so energy moves directly into the inner ear, especially through the temporal bone into the cochlear fluids. Those skull vibrations set the cochlear fluids and basilar membrane in motion, deflecting hair cells and generating neural signals that travel via the auditory nerve to the brain. Because the energy travels through bone rather than through the air to the tympanic membrane, the outer and middle ears are bypassed. The auditory nerve doesn’t respond to air pressure changes directly, and the cochlea doesn’t generate sound—it transduces mechanical energy into neural signals.