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

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Etymology

Origin of stereocilium

From New Latin; see origin at stereo-, cilium

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stereocilia

When sound waves produce fluid waves inside the cochlea, the basilar membrane flexes, bending the stereocilia that attach to the tectorial membrane.

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

It is composed of hair cells held in place above the basilar membrane like flowers projecting up from soil, with their exposed short, hair-like stereocilia contacting or embedded in the tectorial membrane above them.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

This bends the stereocilia either toward or away from the tallest member of each array.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

When no sound is present, and the stereocilia are standing straight, a small amount of tension still exists on the tethers, keeping the membrane potential of the hair cell slightly depolarized.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

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