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. 2011 Dec 5;97(4):438–451. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.2011.059303

Figure 3. Mature hair bundle morphology of a cochlear hair cell.

Figure 3

A, scanning electron micrograph showing the hair bundle from an adult guinea-pig apical coil outer hair cell. Note the characteristic staircase structure composed by rows of stereocilia of decreasing height. Scale bar represents 2 μm. B, high-magnification scanning electron micrograph view of a tip link connecting adjacent stereocilia from an adult rat IHC. Scale bar represents 200 nm. Images in A and B are courtesy of D. N. Furness, Keele University, Keele, UK. C, schematic drawing of the tip link structure connecting the mechano-electrical transducer channel to the adjacent taller stereocilia. Abbreviations: CDH23, cadherin-23; and PCDH15, protocadherin-15.