Which structure in the ear is responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals?

The structure responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals is the oval window, which plays a crucial role in the auditory system. When sound waves enter the ear, they cause the eardrum to vibrate. This vibration is then transmitted through the ossicles, a tiny chain of bones in the middle ear. The oval window is a membrane-covered opening that leads from the middle ear to the inner ear.

When the ossicles move, they push against the oval window. This action generates pressure waves in the fluid of the cochlea located in the inner ear. Within the cochlea, specialized hair cells detect these pressure changes and convert them into electrical signals. These electrical signals are then sent to the brain via the auditory nerve, allowing us to perceive sound.

The oval window is essential for this conversion process, making it the key structure in transforming mechanical vibrations into the neural signals that our brain interprets as sound.