Hair cells in the canal detect changes in the movement of the canal's fluid, and the brain interprets these changes as a specific pitch or volume.  
It consists of a conical central axis, the modiolus, and a canal wound spirally around the modiolus for 2 3/4 turns, ending in an opening called the cupola.  Hair cells in the canal detect changes in the movement of the canal's fluid, and the brain interprets these changes as a specific pitch or volume.  For ten points, what auditory organ is named after its resemblance to a snail shell?
It consists of a conical central axis, the modiolus, and a canal wound spirally around the modiolus for 2 3/4 turns, ending in an opening called the cupola.  
cochlea