Describe how the organ of Corti transduces sound waves into ...

[ishan]

Describe how the organ of Corti transduces sound waves into electrical potentials.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Describe the neural pathways by which auditory signals for audition reach the cortex.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[Sophiapenny]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: Hair cells are anchored to the basilar membrane. Cilia that project from the inner hair cells are moved by currents produced when the basilar membrane moves relative to the overlying tectorial membrane. The cilia of a hair cell are interconnected by tip links and as these move, the attachment points of the adjacent cilia open a channel to potassium (and calcium), which creates a receptor potential.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: This answer is summarized in Figure 7.9 (page 215). The cochlear nerve projects afferent fibers to the dorsal and ventral cochlear nuclei, then to the superior olivary complex, and then through the lateral lemniscus to the inferior colliculusthen to the thalamic medial geniculate nucleus, and then to the primary auditory cortex.