Question

Where else in the inner ear are there similar hair cells as stereocilia that act as sensory receptors?

Answer 1

Stereocillia are nonmotile cilias present in_ respiratory tract,vas differens,epididymis,and cochlea of inner ear.

In cochlea of inner ear there is a sense organ of hearing situated on basilar membrane known as organ of corti.Important components of organ of corti are_Tunnel of corti,Hair cells,Supporting cells,Tectorial membrane.

These hair cells are important receptor cells of hearing and transduce sound energy into electrical energy.There are inner and outer hair cells. All have stereocillias on them,which will move and produce electrical potential difference and the hair cells will convert this mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Inner hair cells are arranged in a single row while outer are arranged in 3-4 layers.

Inner hair cells are richly supplied by afferent cochlear fibres and probably more important in transmission of auditory impulses.

Outer hair cells mainly receive efferent innervation from olivary complex and are concerned with modulating the function of inner hair cells.