The sound sensitive cells in our ear is called hair cells, Each has a tough spiky extensions called Stereocilia on its upper surface and each sends signal to auditory nerve fibers through its basal surface.
Hair cells are embedded in a layer supporting cells and are sandwiched between two sheaths extra cellular matrix, the tectorial membrane and basilar membrane.
Sound vibrations cause the basilar membrane to vibrate, and this motion pushes the Stereocilia against the tectoral membrane.
Stereocilia tilt, triggering an electrical response in the hair cells, the activated hair cell in turn activates the auditory nerve cells.
Hair cell membrane contains stretch activated ion channels; these channels are closed when Stereocilia is not tilted.
However, when the steroecilia tilt a linking the filament from one Stereocilium to the channel neighboring stereocilium pulls at the channel opening it. Positive charged ions flow into the cell and depolarizing the membrane
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