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Hair Cells

Hair Cells

Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the auditory system—they transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical energy that the nervous system can understand. Hair cells are located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear, between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The actual sensory receptors are called inner hair cells. The outer hair cells serve other functions, such as sound amplification in the cochlea, and are not discussed in detail here.

The Cochlea

The Cochlea

The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.

Auditory Pathway

Auditory Pathway

Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking...

Anatomy of the Ear

Anatomy of the Ear

Auditory sensation, commonly called hearing, involves the transformation of sonic waves into neural impulses facilitated by the structures of the auditory organ. The prominent, flesh-like structure on the side of the head, called the auricle, directs sound waves towards the auditory canal. The auricle is often mislabeled as the pinna, a term more aligned with mobile structures like a feline's external ear. The auditory canal penetrates the cranium via the external auditory meatus of the...

Equilibrium and Balance

Equilibrium and Balance

The inner ear assumes dual functionalities of auditory perception and equilibrium maintenance. The vestibule is the organ responsible for balance. This organ contains mechanoreceptors, specifically hair cells, endowed with stereocilia, which aid in deciphering information regarding the position and motion of our heads. Two intrinsic components, the utricle and saccule, help perceive head position, while the semicircular canals track head movement. Neurological messages initiated in the...

Auditory Perception

Auditory Perception

The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 26, 2025

In Vivo Calcium Imaging of Lateral-line Hair Cells in Larval Zebrafish

In Vivo Calcium Imaging of Lateral-line Hair Cells in Larval Zebrafish

Published on: November 28, 2018

Rat Auditory Inner Hair Cell Mechanotransduction and Stereociliary Membrane Diffusivity Are Similarly Modulated by

Shefin S George¹, Charles R Steele², Anthony J Ricci^1,3

¹Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Stanford University, 240 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.

|December 9, 2020

Summary

Calcium (Ca²⁺) influences cochlear hair cell mechanotransduction (MET) channel activity by altering stereociliary membrane diffusivity. Changes in membrane fluidity directly correlate with MET channel open probability (P_o), revealing a novel regulatory mechanism.

Keywords:

Cellular Neuroscience Sensory Neuroscience

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Last Updated: Nov 26, 2025

In Vivo Calcium Imaging of Lateral-line Hair Cells in Larval Zebrafish

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Published on: November 28, 2018

Dextran Labeling and Uptake in Live and Functional Murine Cochlear Hair Cells

Dextran Labeling and Uptake in Live and Functional Murine Cochlear Hair Cells

Published on: February 8, 2020

Stereocilia Bundle Imaging with Nanoscale Resolution in Live Mammalian Auditory Hair Cells

Stereocilia Bundle Imaging with Nanoscale Resolution in Live Mammalian Auditory Hair Cells

Published on: January 21, 2021

Area of Science:

Auditory Neuroscience
Cellular Biophysics
Mechanobiology

Background:

The lipid bilayer is crucial for force transmission to mechanically-gated ion channels.
Calcium ions (Ca²⁺) are known modulators of cellular processes, including mechanotransduction.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the hypothesis that Ca²⁺ regulates the open probability (P_o) of cochlear hair cell mechanotransduction (MET) channels through modulation of the plasma membrane.
To develop and utilize technology for monitoring membrane diffusivity to test this hypothesis.

Main Methods:

Development of technology to monitor membrane diffusivity.
Measurement of membrane diffusivity in stereocilia and basolateral membranes of cochlear hair cells.
Manipulation of intracellular and extracellular Ca²⁺ levels and prolonged depolarization.
Correlation of diffusivity changes with MET channel open probability (P_o).

Main Results:

Stereociliary membrane exhibited significantly higher diffusivity (9x) compared to the basolateral membrane.
Reduced stereociliary diffusivity (via increased Ca²⁺ buffering or decreased extracellular Ca²⁺) correlated with increased MET channel P_o.
Increased stereociliary diffusivity (via prolonged depolarization) correlated with reduced MET channel P_o.
Diffusivity changes were specific to stereocilia, with no comparable effects observed in soma measurements.
Stereociliary diffusivity was independent of MET channel location or function.

Conclusions:

The stereociliary membrane's diffusivity is modulated by Ca²⁺.
These Ca²⁺-dependent changes in membrane diffusivity directly impact MET channel open probability.
The stereociliary membrane acts as a calcium-modulated viscoelastic element regulating hair cell mechanotransduction.