False-colour scanning electron micrograph of the surface of the organ of Corti, part of the cochlea of the human inner ear. At top is a single row of

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False-colour scanning electron micrograph of the surface of the organ of Corti, part of the cochlea of the human inner ear. At top is a single row of inner hair cells each bearing a linear row of stereocilia (pink hair-like projections). In contrast, the stereocilia associated with the 3 rows of outer hair cells (centre) are arranged in a V-shape. The function of the stereocilia is to translate the mechanical movements caused by sound waves into electrical impulses that are trans- mitted to the brain via the cochlear nerve. The pink filaments at bottom are narrow processes extending upwards from supporting cells (Deiter's cells). Mag: x1400 at 6x7cm, x700 at 35mm size.

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Size: 3414px × 4196px
Photo credit: © PHOTO INSOLITE REALITE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: anatomy, auditory, body, corti, ear, false-coloured, hearing, human, image, images, magnified, microscopic, organ, photos, sense, stereocilia, subjects