Chapter 45, Problem 3Q

Summary Introduction

To review:

The difference between the basilar membrane in the cochlea of a bat and the basilar membrane of a human ear.

Given:

The sound pulses that are made by the bats and moths have a frequency of around 50 kHz (kilohertz) or in other words, 50,000 cycles per second. The upper limit of sound frequency, which a human ear can detect, is around 20,000 Hz (hertz).

Introduction:

The basilar membrane, which is present in the cochlea (part of the inner ear), is a structure which separates two different tubes filled with liquid. These two fluid containing tubes are called scala tympani and scala media. The basilar membrane is lined with hair cells, which act active as auditory receptors, which are responsible for the detection of sound and thus are important for hearing.