Final answer:
The bending of cilia in the inner hair cells of the ear triggers the transmission of auditory signals to the brain, enabling the perception of sound.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bending of cilia in inner hair cells is responsible for the initiation of auditory signals which lead to the perception of sound. Pressure waves from sound cause the membrane of the cochlear duct to flex at a maximum vibration point for a given frequency. This action causes the hair cells in the basilar membrane to vibrate, bending the stereocilia and leading to the opening of gated ion channels. As a result, the hair cell membrane is depolarized, transmitting a signal to the cochlear nerve. Intensity (volume) of sound is determined by how many hair cells at a specific location are stimulated by these vibrations.