outer hair cells

Outer hair cells are specialized cells in the cochlea of the inner ear that play a vital role in hearing. They can change their length in response to sound signals, enhancing the movement of the cochlear structure. This amplification process sharpens the ear’s ability to detect quiet or high-frequency sounds, improving hearing sensitivity and clarity. Essentially, outer hair cells act like tiny, active amplifiers, helping us hear a wider range of sounds more precisely. They work in coordination with inner hair cells, which send the actual sound signals to the brain for interpretation.