The hair cell of the semicircular canal hyperpolarize when the stereocilia are bent
A) in any direction.
B) towards the kinocilium.
C) away from the kinocilium.
D) towards the longest stereocilia.
E) Hair cells are not hyperpolarized by bending of the sterocilia.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The hair cells of the semicircular canals hyperpolarize when the stereocilia are bent away from the kinocilium. This is because the bending of the stereocilia towards the kinocilium leads to depolarization. The movement of the hair cells in this direction causes the opening of mechanically gated K+ channels which leads to the depolarization. The opposite movement (bending away from the kinocilium) causes the closing of these channels, leading to hyperpolarization of the hair cell.

The Hair Cell of the Semicircular Canal Hyperpolarize When the Stereocilia