Question

The basilar membrane of Cochlea
A. Is unaffected by movement of fluid in Scala vestibuli.
B. Covers the Oval window and round Window.
C. Vibrates in a pattern determined by the form of travelling waves in the fluid of cochlea
D. Vibrates when the body is subjected to linear acceleration.

Answer 1

Hint: Ears are stato-acoustic organs of the body. The major function of the ear is to preserve and adjust the body. Fundamentally, the ear is separated into three parts (a) External Ear (b) Middle Ear (c) Internal Ear. External Ear is the Outer portion which is created in fair warm blooded animals. Middle ear comprises a tympanic depth which is filled with air. Cochlea is a part of fluid filled Inner Ear.

Complete answer:
cochlea is a coiled structure present below vestibular apparatus. It is a sensory structure for hearing. Cochlea is a part of the ear that utilizes an exceedingly nonlinear and versatile analyser. Scala media is a canal present in cochlea which consist of a membrane called basilar membrane. The organ of corti could be a structure found on the basilar membrane which comprises hair cells that act as sound-related receptors. Sound energizes vibration of the eardrum and an oscillatory pattern is initiated within the fluid of cochlea. Due to these vibrating waves, the Reissener membrane and basilar membrane of the walls of Scala media also vibrates which further reaches up to the organ of corti and leads to the vibration of the Organ of Corti. The basilar membrane of cochlea vibrates in a particular pattern determined by the form of wave of this sound.

Therefore the correct option is (c) Vibrates in a pattern determined by the form of travelling waves in the fluid of Cochlea.

Note: Ear functions to receive sound waves and maintain the body’s balance. Vibrations produced by cochlea travel through perilymph and reach up to fenestra and Rotundus and get destroyed. The balance of the body is handled by utriculus, sacculus and three semicircular canals. There are two forms of balancing i.e. Static balancing and dynamic balancing.