Organ of Corti kinematics.
The internal workings of the organ of Corti and their relation to basilar membrane motion are examined with the aid of a simple kinematic model. It is shown that, due to the lever system embodied in the organ of Corti, there is a significant transformer gain between basilar membrane and cilia displacements. While this transformation is nonlinear, linear response prevails in the narrow physiologically relevant operating range of the ciliary transducer. The model also simulates cilia deflection when the mechanical stimulus is the length change of outer hair cells.
Dallos
Peter
P
Auditory Physiology Laboratory, The Hugh Knowles Center and Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. p-dallos@northwestern.edu
D000818:Animals; D001489:Basilar Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002465:Cell Movement; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology; D005849:Gerbillinae; D018072:Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer / Q000502:physiology*; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*