Displacement of stereocilia toward the kinocilium of a hair cell
(a) produces a depolarization of the membrane,
(b) produces a hyperpolarization of the membrane,
(c) decreases the membrane permeability to sodium ions,
(d) increases the membrane permeability to potassium ions,
(e) does not affect the membrane potential of the cell.
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1
insert step 1: Understand the structure and function of hair cells, which are sensory cells found in the inner ear that play a crucial role in the process of hearing and balance.
insert step 2: Recognize that hair cells have stereocilia and a kinocilium, which are hair-like projections that respond to mechanical stimuli.
insert step 3: Note that the displacement of stereocilia toward the kinocilium typically results in the opening of ion channels.
insert step 4: Consider that the opening of these ion channels usually leads to an influx of ions, which can change the membrane potential of the hair cell.
insert step 5: Determine which ions are involved in this process and how their movement affects the membrane potential, focusing on the role of potassium ions in depolarization.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Stereocilia and Kinocilium Function
Stereocilia are hair-like projections on hair cells in the inner ear that play a crucial role in mechanotransduction. When sound waves or head movements cause displacement of stereocilia toward the kinocilium, it triggers a series of biochemical events that lead to changes in the cell's membrane potential, essential for converting mechanical stimuli into electrical signals.
Depolarization refers to a decrease in the membrane potential, making the inside of the cell more positive, while hyperpolarization is an increase in membrane potential, making the inside more negative. In hair cells, the movement of stereocilia toward the kinocilium typically results in depolarization, which is critical for the transmission of auditory and balance information to the brain.
Changes in ion permeability are fundamental to the function of hair cells. When stereocilia are displaced, ion channels open, allowing specific ions like potassium to flow into the cell, which contributes to depolarization. Understanding how these permeability changes affect the membrane potential is key to grasping how sensory signals are generated and processed.