What is the primary function of the cochlea in the inner ear?

The cochlea's primary function is indeed to convert sound waves into nerve impulses. This structure, which resembles a spiral shell, is filled with fluid and lined with hair cells that are essential for detecting sound. When sound waves enter the cochlea, they create vibrations that move the fluid within. This motion stimulates the hair cells, which then generate electrical signals that are sent to the brain via the auditory nerve. The brain interprets these signals as sound, allowing us to perceive and understand what we are hearing.

The other options describe functions that are related to hearing or the ear in some way but do not pertain to the cochlea's primary role. Protecting the inner ear from loud sounds involves other structures like the stapedius and tensor tympani muscles. Balancing body orientation is primarily the function of the vestibular system, also located in the inner ear. Regulating air pressure is done by the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx and helps equalize pressure. Thus, the cochlea's specific role in transforming sound waves into nerve impulses distinguishes it as the core component of auditory processing.