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False-colour SEM of the organ of Corti
False-colour scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the surface of the organ of Corti, part of the cochlea of the human inner ear. At bottom is a single row of inner hair cells containing stereocilia (hair-like projections) that are linearly arranged. In contrast, the stereocilia associated with the 3 layers of outer hair cells are arranged in a V-shape. Each hair cell may support up to 100 individual stereocilia. The function of these stereocilia is to translate the mechanical movements, caused by their displacement by sound waves, into electrical impulses that are transmitted to the brain via the cochlear nerve. Magnification: x1600 at 6x7cm, x800 at 35mm size.
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