Question

The human cochlea contains approximately ________ inner hair cells and ________ outer hair cells.

1) 6,000; 1,000
2) 3,500; 12,000
3) 1,750; 6,000
4) 6,000; 16,000
5) 12,000; 3,500

Answer 1

The human cochlea contains approximately 3,500 inner hair cells and 12,000 outer hair cells. Inner hair cells act as primary auditory receptors, while outer hair cells fine-tune sound waves.

Step-by-step explanation:

The human cochlea contains approximately 3,500 inner hair cells and 12,000 outer hair cells. The inner hair cells function as the primary auditory receptors, and they exist in a single row with their stereocilia making contact with the tectorial membrane. Meanwhile, the outer hair cells, which are arranged in three or four rows, serve to fine-tune the incoming sound waves. Higher processing involves the inner hair cells predominantly, as about 90 percent of the afferent neurons carry information from them to the brain, with each inner hair cell synapsing with approximately 10 neurons. Even though each afferent neuron innervating the outer hair cells connects with many hair cells, these only connect to about 10 percent of the afferent neurons.