Basilar membrane

The basilar membrane is a vital part of the inner ear involved in hearing. It runs inside the cochlea, a spiral-shaped hearing organ, and varies in flexibility along its length. When sound waves reach the cochlea, they cause vibrations that travel along the membrane. Different parts of the membrane respond to different sound frequencies; high-pitched sounds vibrate the stiff, narrow areas, while low-pitched sounds vibrate the wider, more flexible regions. These vibrations are then converted into nerve signals that your brain interprets as sound, making the basilar membrane essential for distinguishing different pitches.