Final answer:
Outer hair cells in the mammalian inner ear function to fine tune incoming sound waves by amplifying and sharpening sound frequencies. This enhances the auditory system's precision in responding to various frequencies and contributes to our pitch perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the mammalian inner ear, inner hair cells detect sounds, while outer hair cells function to fine tune incoming sound waves.
The outer hair cells, which number approximately 12,000 and are arranged in three or four rows, play a critical role in the auditory process.
Their primary function involves amplifying and sharpening the sound frequencies received by the cochlea.
This is crucial for our ability to discern pitch and loudness more accurately.
They achieve this by changing shape in response to electrical signals, thereby exerting a force on the basilar membrane and the tectorial membrane, which enhances the mechanical stimuli produced by sound waves.
This activity of the outer hair cells serves to increase the precision of the auditory system's response to various frequencies.