What is the organ of Corti?

What is the organ of Corti?

• A. It secretes perilymph into the middle ear.
• B. It houses inner hair cells (primary sensory receptors) and outer hair cells (which amplify motion).
• C. It is not involved in hearing.
• D. It is the site of vestibular balance; no hearing function.

Answer: (B)

The organ of Corti is the specialized sensory structure inside the cochlea that contains the hair cells responsible for hearing. It houses inner hair cells, which are the primary auditory receptors that transduce mechanical vibrations into neural signals by deflecting their stereocilia and releasing neurotransmitter to spiral ganglion neurons, and outer hair cells, which act as cochlear amplifiers to boost and sharpen the motion of the basilar membrane for increased sensitivity and frequency discrimination. This arrangement on the basilar membrane within the scala media allows sound-induced vibrations to be converted into electrical signals that travel to the brain. It is not involved in balance and does not secrete perilymph into the middle ear; those roles belong to other inner-ear structures.

The organ of Corti is the specialized sensory structure inside the cochlea that contains the hair cells responsible for hearing. It houses inner hair cells, which are the primary auditory receptors that transduce mechanical vibrations into neural signals by deflecting their stereocilia and releasing neurotransmitter to spiral ganglion neurons, and outer hair cells, which act as cochlear amplifiers to boost and sharpen the motion of the basilar membrane for increased sensitivity and frequency discrimination. This arrangement on the basilar membrane within the scala media allows sound-induced vibrations to be converted into electrical signals that travel to the brain. It is not involved in balance and does not secrete perilymph into the middle ear; those roles belong to other inner-ear structures.