Question

Which of the following is true of hair cells?

1) Afferent axons form connections with the outer hair cells.
2) Damage to the inner hair cells impairs hearing.
3) Outer hair cells are necessary for hearing.
4) Thin unmyelinated axons form connections with inner hair cells.
5) The outer hair cells provide 95 percent of the signals carried by the cochlear nerve.

Answer 1

The true statement about hair cells is that damage to the inner hair cells impairs hearing, as they play a critical role in conveying auditory information to the brain.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the statements regarding hair cells, the following is true: 'Damage to the inner hair cells impairs hearing.' Inner hair cells are the primary auditory receptors and are crucial for conveying auditory information to the brain. They connect to about 90 percent of the afferent neurons, with each hair cell synapsing with approximately 10 neurons. The outer hair cells, on the other hand, serve to fine-tune response to sound frequencies and contribute to only 10 percent of the signals carried by the cochlear nerve. Efferent connections from the brain can modulate the outer hair cells, enhancing the auditory system's sensitivity and frequency resolution.