What occurs to high-pitched sounds as they travel through the inner ear?

High-pitched sounds indeed activate inner ear hair cells as they travel through the inner ear, particularly in the cochlea. The cochlea is tonotopically organized, meaning that different frequencies of sound are processed in specific locations along its length. High-frequency sounds are typically processed at the base of the cochlea, where the inner hair cells are located.

When high-pitched sounds enter the cochlea, they create wave movements in the fluid that result in the stimulation of these hair cells. This mechanical stimulation causes the hair cells to depolarize and send electrical signals to the auditory nerve, which then transmits this information to the brain for processing.

In contrast, although outer hair cells play a role in amplifying certain sounds, their primary function is more related to the sensitivity and fine-tuning of hearing rather than directly activating auditory signals. The apex of the cochlea primarily corresponds to lower-frequency sounds, not high-pitched ones, explaining why that option is not suitable. Furthermore, high-pitched sounds are not bypassed; they are essential for understanding speech and various environmental sounds, making direct activation of the inner hair cells a critical part of auditory processing of such frequencies.