Which cells convert vibrations into electrical signals in the auditory system?

Hair cells are specialized sensory cells located in the cochlea of the inner ear. They play a crucial role in the auditory system by converting mechanical vibrations, which are generated by sound waves, into electrical signals. When sound waves enter the ear, they cause vibrations in the fluid of the cochlea. This movement bends the hair-like projections on the surface of hair cells, leading to the opening of ion channels and the generation of electrical impulses. These impulses are then transmitted to the brain through the auditory nerve, allowing us to perceive sound.

In contrast, nerve fibers, while essential for transmitting the electrical signals from hair cells to the brain, do not carry out the conversion process themselves. Ossicles are tiny bones in the middle ear that amplify the sound vibrations but do not transform them into electrical signals. The auditory cortex is a region in the brain responsible for processing auditory information but is not involved in the initial conversion of vibrations into electrical signals. Therefore, hair cells are the key components responsible for this conversion process in the auditory system.