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 left and 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 bottom centre). The tectorial membrane (very light blue at upper left of organ of Corti) vibrates and stimulates the sensitive hair cells on the basal membrane (blue, bottom left), which translate the vibrations to electrical signals that are sent to the brain via spiral ganglion (red, bottom left). Bone is bright blue. Magnification: x180 when printed at 15cm wide.