The Spiral Organ

Question

The spiral organ
A) is located in the scala tympani.
B) contains specialized sensory cells with hairlike projections.
C) has sensory neurons with their cell bodies in the spiral lamina.
D) has hair cells with their tips embedded in the basilar membrane.
E) has afferent nerve fibers that form the tectorial nerve.

Accepted Answer

The spiral organ, also known as the organ of Corti, contains specialized sensory cells called hair cells with hairlike projections that respond to sound vibrations. These hair cells are located on the basilar membrane and their tips are embedded in the tectorial membrane. The spiral organ is housed in the cochlea, which is divided into three sections including the scala tympani, but the spiral organ itself is not located specifically in the scala tympani. The spiral lamina is a structure within the cochlea that separates the scala media from the scala tympani and contains sensory neurons, but these neurons are not part of the spiral organ. Similarly, the afferent nerve fibers that form the auditory nerve do not specifically form the tectorial nerve.