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Inner ear hairs, SEM
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Inner ear hairs, SEM
Inner ear hairs. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of stereocilia, sensory hair-like projections, from hair cells of the cochlea of the inner ear. The stereocilia are surrounded by a fluid called the endolymph. As sound enters the ear it causes waves to form in the endolymph, which in turn cause the stereocilia to move. Seen here are the tip links (thin bridges linking the front stereocilium to the stereocilium behind it). As the tip links are moved they pull open ion channels in the stereocilia, allowing the flow of ions into the hair cells, and so beginning the propagation of an electrical signal that will be passed to the brain
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6303411
© DR DAVID FURNESS, KEELE UNIVERSITY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Auditory Sense Cilia Cilium Cochlea Filament Filaments Hairs Hearing Inner Ear Organ Of Corti Sense Sensitive Sensory Hair Sound Stereocilia Stereocilium Cells False Coloured
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print from Science Photo Library showcases the intricate inner workings of our auditory system. The image captures a false-colored scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of stereocilia, which are sensory hair-like projections found in the cochlea of the inner ear. These delicate structures play a vital role in our ability to hear and perceive sound. Surrounded by a fluid called endolymph, these stereocilia respond to sound waves that enter the ear. As waves form in the endolymph, they cause the stereocilia to move. In this mesmerizing image, we can observe thin bridges known as tip links connecting each front stereocilium to its neighboring one behind it. The movement of these tip links is crucial for our hearing process. As they are pulled open by their motion, ion channels within the stereocilia allow ions to flow into specialized hair cells present in our ears. This influx of ions initiates an electrical signal that will eventually be transmitted to our brain for interpretation. This photograph not only highlights the complexity and sensitivity of our auditory system but also serves as a reminder of how remarkable and finely tuned our biological mechanisms truly are. It offers us a glimpse into nature's design at its finest – where even something as small as inner ear hairs holds immense importance in enabling us to experience and appreciate the world around us through sound perception.
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