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Multiple Choice
Which part of the ear is primarily responsible for maintaining balance in humans?
A
Cochlea
B
Auditory ossicles
C
Tympanic membrane
D
Semicircular canals
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the function of each part of the ear mentioned in the problem: Cochlea, Auditory ossicles, Tympanic membrane, and Semicircular canals.
Learn that the cochlea is primarily responsible for converting sound vibrations into neural signals for hearing, not balance.
Recognize that the auditory ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes) amplify sound vibrations and transmit them to the inner ear, playing no direct role in balance.
Understand that the tympanic membrane (eardrum) vibrates in response to sound waves, initiating the process of hearing, but it does not contribute to balance.
Identify the semicircular canals as the structures in the inner ear responsible for detecting rotational movements and maintaining balance, due to the movement of fluid within them and the sensory hair cells that detect this motion.