Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

The organ of Corti is located in which area of the body?

1. Eye

2. Ear

3. Nose

4. Mouth

The correct answer is: Ear

The organ of Corti is an essential structure located within the cochlea of the inner ear. It plays a pivotal role in the auditory system by converting sound vibrations into neural signals that can be processed by the brain. Inside the organ of Corti are hair cells, which are sensory receptors that bend in response to fluid movement generated by sound waves. This bending triggers the release of neurotransmitters, sending auditory information through the auditory nerve. Given its critical function in hearing, it is clear why the correct answer pertains to the ear, as other options like the eye, nose, and mouth do not have any association with the sensory mechanism of hearing or the specialized structures that facilitate this process.