INNER HAIR CELL Meaning and
Definition
-
Inner hair cells (IHCs) are specialized sensory cells located in the cochlea of the ear. They are one of two types of hair cells found in the organ of Corti, which is responsible for auditory transduction. The inner hair cells are arranged in a single row and are positioned closer to the central core of the cochlea compared to the outer hair cells.
The primary function of inner hair cells is to convert sound vibrations into electrical signals that can be transmitted to the brain for interpretation. They play a critical role in hearing, as they are responsible for the majority of neural input to the auditory nerve fibers. Inner hair cells are highly sensitive to sound waves and can detect even the smallest vibrations.
Each inner hair cell possesses numerous specialized hair-like structures called stereocilia, which are embedded in a gelatinous structure called the tectorial membrane. When sound waves pass through the cochlea, they cause the stereocilia to bend, initiating a series of electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain through the auditory nerve fibers.
Unlike outer hair cells, inner hair cells do not possess contractile proteins and are not involved in amplifying sound. Instead, their main function is to convert sound energy into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. Damage to inner hair cells can lead to hearing loss and other auditory impairments.
Common Misspellings for INNER HAIR CELL
- unner hair cell
- jnner hair cell
- knner hair cell
- onner hair cell
- 9nner hair cell
- 8nner hair cell
- ibner hair cell
- imner hair cell
- ijner hair cell
- ihner hair cell
- inber hair cell
- inmer hair cell
- injer hair cell
- inher hair cell
- innwr hair cell
- innsr hair cell
- inndr hair cell
- innrr hair cell
- inn4r hair cell
- inn3r hair cell
