Stereocilia

Definition

Stereocilia are hairlike projections found on the surface of certain cells, such as those in the inner ear, playing a key role in sensory perception by converting mechanical movement into electrical signals. They are crucial for hearing and balance, responding to fluid motion for the stimulation of sensory cells.

Related terms

Hair cells: Sensory cells located in the inner ear that have stereocilia on their surface and are responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals for auditory nerve transmission.

Mechanotransduction: The process by which cells convert mechanical stimulus into an electrical or chemical signal, exemplified by how stereocilia respond to sound waves or fluid motion.

Cochlea:

A spiral-shaped cavity in the inner ear containing hair cells with stereocilia that translate sound vibrations into nerve impulses understood by the brain