Special senses / Audition / Transduction / Hair cells
Auditory transduction
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both inner and outer hair cells generate a receptor potential (i.e., conversion of the mechanical sound stimulus into an electrical gradient occurs in both types of hair cells)
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the key structural components are the stereocilia found in the apical membrane of the hair cells
Scanning electron micrograph showing the normal organization of the organ of Corti. View is of the apical membrane of the single row of IHCs (top) and 3 rows of OHC (bottom). Notice the orderly arrangement of stereocilia. |
Disruption of IHC stereocilia and loss of OHC in the basal turn of the cochlea following noise exposure (90 dBA noise for 8 hours) 6 months earlier. This damage produced a profound hearing loss. |
