Final answer:
A channel that opens in response to movement of stereocilia is a mechanically gated channel, specifically responsive to mechanical changes such as those caused by sound waves in the inner ear, leading to auditory signal transduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
A channel that opens in response to the movement of stereocilia is called a mechanically gated channel. These channels are unique in that they respond to mechanical deformation or physical distortion of the cell membrane. In the case of stereocilia located in the inner ear, when vibrations from sound waves cause the stereocilia to move, the mechanosensitive ion channels connected to them open, allowing ions to enter or exit the hair cells, leading to depolarization of these cells and the initiation of a signal that is transmitted to the cochlear nerve.
This process is distinctly different from other types of ion channels like voltage-gated channels, which respond to changes in electrical potential across the membrane, or ligand-gated channels (also known as ionotropic receptors), where the opening is triggered by binding of a molecule to the channel.