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basilar membrane
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Diagram of the human ear showing how sound waves travel through the outer ear and auditory canal to the tympanic membrane, causing vibrations in the ossicles, and then through the middle and inner ear, including the cochlea. Color-coded sections highlight the outer ear in orange, middle ear in pink, and inner ear in blue. Diagram illustrating how the basilar membrane in the cochlea analyzes sound frequencies, with a spiral showing frequency regions from base to apex and side panels depicting how high, medium, and low frequencies stimulate different membrane areas.
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basilar membrane

anatomy
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Diagram of the human ear showing how sound waves travel through the outer ear and auditory canal to the tympanic membrane, causing vibrations in the ossicles, and then through the middle and inner ear, including the cochlea. Color-coded sections highlight the outer ear in orange, middle ear in pink, and inner ear in blue.
human ear canal In human hearing, sound waves enter the outer ear and travel through the external auditory canal. When the waves reach the tympanic membrane, they cause the membrane and the attached chain of auditory ossicles to vibrate. The motion of the stapes against the oval window sets up waves in the fluids of the cochlea, causing the basilar membrane to vibrate. This stimulates the sensory cells of the organ of Corti, atop the basilar membrane, to send nerve impulses to the brain.

The basilar membrane is an essential anatomical structure within the cochlea of the inner ear. It extends from the cochlea's bony shelf to its outer wall and serves as the support for the organ of Corti. This membrane plays a crucial role in hearing by vibrating in response to sound waves transmitted through the cochlear fluids. Different frequencies of sound cause specific regions of the basilar membrane to vibrate, allowing the ear to distinguish pitch. The organ of Corti, resting on the basilar membrane, contains sensory hair cells that convert these mechanical vibrations into nerve impulses, which are then sent to the brain for interpretation as sound.1234

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5 Britannica Sources
  1. basilar membrane
  2. human ear - Organ of Corti
  3. human ear - Structure of the cochlea
  4. human ear - Transmission of sound waves in the cochlea
  5. human ear - Transduction of mechanical vibrations

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