Auditory and Vestibular System Flashcards
1
Q
Hair Cell
A
A cell generally composed of stereocilia, a cell body and a synapse (onto a afferent nerve fibre).
2
Q
Stereocilia
A
Are rigid, non-motile, actin filled rods, or “hairs”.
3
Q
Afferent Nerve
A
The nerve cell stimulated, via synapse, by hair cells. This is the 8th cranial nerve in the case of auditory and vestibular hair cells.
4
Q
Endolymph
A
A potassium rich extracellular fluid critical to the function of hair cells.
5
Q
Basilar Membrane
A
The membrane which houses auditory hair cells. The basilar membrane selectively vibrates to different frequencies at different points along its length, this underlies perceptual frequency selectivity.
