What role do the hair cells play in the auditory system?

Hair cells are specialized sensory cells located in the cochlea of the inner ear and play a crucial role in the auditory system by converting mechanical sound vibrations into electrical signals. When sound waves enter the ear, they cause the fluid within the cochlea to move, which in turn causes the hair cells to bend. This bending opens ion channels in the hair cells, leading to a change in electrical potential. The resulting electrical signals are then transmitted to the auditory nerve and sent to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound.

This process, known as mechanotransduction, is essential for hearing because it bridges the gap between the physical movement of sound waves and the neural information processed by the brain. Without the hair cells functioning properly, our ability to perceive sound would be severely impaired.