stereocilium

American  

[ster-ee-uh-sil-ee-uhm, steer-] / ˌstɛr i əˈsɪl i əm, ˌstɪər- /

noun

Anatomy.

stereocilia plural

1. any of the long, flexible microvilli that superficially resemble cilia and occur as a brush border or series of tufts on the surface of various epithelial tissues.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• stereocilia
  plural

Etymology

Origin of stereocilium

From New Latin; see origin at stereo-, cilium

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stereocilia

The longer stereocilia that project from the outer hair cells actually attach to the tectorial membrane.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

The stereocilia from inner hair cells extend into small dimples on the tectorial membrane’s lower surface.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

When the head is tilted, the crystals continue to be pulled straight down by gravity, but the new angle of the head causes the gelatin to shift, thereby bending the stereocilia.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

When the stereocilia bend toward the shortest member of their array, the tension on the tethers slackens and the ion channels close.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

Figure 14.8 Hair Cell The hair cell is a mechanoreceptor with an array of stereocilia emerging from its apical surface.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013