Which statement about outer hair cells is true?

Which statement about outer hair cells is true?

• A. They modulate the stiffness of the tectorial membrane.
• B. They convert mechanical energy into neural signals.
• C. They form the organ of Corti.
• D. They produce cerumen.

Answer: (A)

Outer hair cells provide the cochlear amplifier by changing their length in response to electrical stimulation. This electromotility, driven by prestin, feeds energy back into the cochlear partition, altering how the basilar membrane and tectorial membrane interact. This active process changes the mechanical impedance of the system, effectively modulating the stiffness or coupling of the tectorial membrane. That’s why this statement is true. Transduction of mechanical energy into neural signals is carried out by inner hair cells, not outer hair cells. The organ of Corti is the whole sensory epithelium housing both inner and outer hair cells, not formed by outer hair cells alone. Cerumen is produced by glands in the external ear canal, not by hair cells.

Outer hair cells provide the cochlear amplifier by changing their length in response to electrical stimulation. This electromotility, driven by prestin, feeds energy back into the cochlear partition, altering how the basilar membrane and tectorial membrane interact. This active process changes the mechanical impedance of the system, effectively modulating the stiffness or coupling of the tectorial membrane. That’s why this statement is true.

Transduction of mechanical energy into neural signals is carried out by inner hair cells, not outer hair cells. The organ of Corti is the whole sensory epithelium housing both inner and outer hair cells, not formed by outer hair cells alone. Cerumen is produced by glands in the external ear canal, not by hair cells.