Which part of ear is responsible for hearing?

The ear is a complex sensory organ responsible for both hearing and balance, divided into outer, middle, and inner sections. Hearing involves the conversion of sound waves into electrical signals that the brain can interpret.

• The correct answer is A: Cochlea. The cochlea is a spiral-shaped, fluid-filled structure in the inner ear containing the Organ of Corti. This organ houses thousands of tiny hair cells that convert mechanical vibrations into electrical nerve impulses, which are then transmitted to the brain for sound perception.
• B: Ossicle refers to the three small bones (malleus, incus, stapes) in the middle ear that amplify and transmit vibrations, but they don't perform the actual hearing transduction.
• C: Pinna is the visible outer part of the ear that collects and funnels sound waves into the ear canal.
• D: Eardrum (tympanic membrane) vibrates in response to sound waves, initiating the transmission process to the ossicles, but it does not convert vibrations into neural signals.