Biology / Unit 12 Bio 2899 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Cochlea and the Organ of Corti
Captions available
The idea
The fluid-filled cochlea houses the basilar membrane and the organ of Corti, where hair cells transduce fluid pressure waves into electrical signals via bending stereocilia.
In practice
Bending stereocilia toward their tallest neighbor opens gated ion channels, depolarizing the hair cell.
Where people slip
Inner hair cells, not the more numerous outer hair cells, carry most of the auditory information to the brain.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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