Light micrograph of a section through the fluid-filled canal of the cochlea of the inner ear. Noise vibrations in the fluid in the canal (white) at upper centre cause vibrations in the vestibular membrane (thin diagonal line crossing the canal). These in turn create vibrations in the organ of Corti (light pink, across centre right). The tectorial membrane (very light blue, centre) vibrates and stimulates the sensitive hair cells on the basal membrane (blue, centre left), which translate the vibrations to electrical signals that are sent to the brain. Bone is bright blue. Magnification: x100 when printed at 15cm tall.