What is the receptor organ responsible for hearing?

The Organ of Corti is the receptor organ responsible for hearing as it is located within the cochlea of the inner ear. This specialized structure contains sensitive hair cells that detect sound vibrations and convert them into electrical signals. These signals are then transmitted to the brain through the auditory nerve, allowing us to perceive sound.

The vestibule, which is part of the inner ear, is primarily involved in balance and spatial orientation, rather than auditory processing. The basilar membrane does play a crucial role in hearing by supporting the Organ of Corti and helping with the stimulation of hair cells in response to sound vibrations, but it is not the actual receptor organ. The auditory nerve is the pathway that carries the signals generated by the Organ of Corti to the brain, but it does not contain the sensory cells for hearing itself. Thus, the Organ of Corti is the primary organ responsible for the reception of auditory stimuli.