hair cell

noun

Biology.

1. an epithelial cell having hairlike processes, as that of the organ of Corti.

hair cell

1. A cell found in the organs of balance in the inner ear of mammals that senses the body's position with respect to gravity. Hair cells are found in both the semicircular canals and the vestibule.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hair cell¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

In the inner ear, mutations in CPD disrupted this process, triggering oxidative stress and the death of delicate sensory hair cells that detect sound vibrations.

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Unlike eye surgery, which is common, operations aren’t often performed on the pliable bones and hair cell receptors of the middle ear, the source of natural hearing.

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"Tiny hair cells inside the inner ear pick up sound waves to help you hear. When these get damaged or die, hearing loss is irreversible."

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When each virus enters a hair cell and delivers its cargo, the fragments join.

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It’s caused by mutations in a gene responsible for an inner ear protein called otoferlin, which helps hair cells transmit sound to the brain.

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