Which part of the basilar membrane responds most strongly to high-frequency sounds?

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Cross-section diagram of the human ear showing the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear, with labeled parts including the auricle, auditory canal, tympanic membrane, ossicles, cochlea, semicircular canals, and nerves. — human ear Structure of the human ear.

The basal end of the basilar membrane—located near the middle ear—responds most strongly to high-frequency sounds.12

This occurs because the basal end of the membrane possesses greater stiffness and less mass compared to the apical end, which makes it more attuned to higher frequencies. According to the "place theory" of hearing, sound vibrations travel along the membrane as waves that reach their maximum amplitude at specific locations depending on their frequency; the higher the frequency of the sound, the shorter the distance the waves travel before peaking at the basal end.12