The _____ act(s)to relax or contract the basilar membrane to change its stiffness,and thus,its response to sound waves.
A) inner hair cells
B) outer hair cells
C) bipolar cells
D) cochlear nuclei

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The outer hair cells are responsible for the active mechanical process within the cochlea that amplifies incoming sound waves. They do this by changing their length and thus changing the stiffness of the basilar membrane, allowing it to respond more effectively to the sound waves. The inner hair cells, bipolar cells, and cochlear nuclei are involved in further processing and transmitting the sound information to the brain, but they do not directly influence the stiffness of the basilar membrane.

The _____ Act(s)to Relax or Contract the Basilar Membrane to Change