True or false: Hair cells in the spiral organ will depolarize or hyperpolarize, depending on the direction in which the stereocilia are bent.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the structure of the spiral organ, also known as the organ of Corti, which is located in the cochlea of the inner ear.
2. Recognize that hair cells in the spiral organ have stereocilia on their surface, which are crucial for detecting sound vibrations.
3. Learn that the bending of stereocilia towards the tallest stereocilium causes depolarization of the hair cell, leading to the opening of ion channels and an influx of potassium ions.
4. Understand that bending the stereocilia in the opposite direction (away from the tallest stereocilium) causes hyperpolarization, closing the ion channels and reducing the influx of ions.
5. Conclude that the statement is true because the direction of stereocilia bending determines whether the hair cells will depolarize or hyperpolarize.

Key Concepts

Hair Cells

Hair cells are specialized sensory cells located in the inner ear, particularly within the cochlea. They play a crucial role in converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that the brain can interpret. Each hair cell has tiny hair-like structures called stereocilia that respond to fluid movement caused by sound waves.

Stereocilia Bending

Stereocilia are the microscopic projections on hair cells that detect mechanical changes in their environment. When sound waves cause the fluid in the cochlea to move, the stereocilia bend in response. The direction of this bending determines whether the hair cell will depolarize (increase its electrical activity) or hyperpolarize (decrease its electrical activity), influencing the signal sent to the auditory nerve.

Depolarization and Hyperpolarization

Depolarization and hyperpolarization are changes in the electrical charge of a cell's membrane. Depolarization occurs when the inside of the cell becomes less negative, often leading to the generation of an action potential. Hyperpolarization, on the other hand, makes the inside of the cell more negative, reducing the likelihood of an action potential. In hair cells, the direction of stereocilia bending determines which of these processes occurs.