Final answer:
The tiny 'hairs' are stereocilia, which bend in response to sound waves, leading to hair cell depolarization and the initiation of auditory signals to the brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tiny "hairs" extending from hair cells whose deformation initiates transduction are known as stereocilia. These structures are crucial in the process of converting mechanical movements from sound waves into electrochemical signals within the auditory system. Located within the organ of Corti of the cochlea, the hair cells host these stereocilia on their apical surfaces.
Upon sound wave stimulation, the basilar membrane fluctuates, causing the paired stereocilia to bend. This bending opens up gated ion channels, leading to the depolarization of the hair cell membrane. Consequently, this triggers nerve impulses that are carried to the brain by the cochlear branch of the vestibulocochlear nerve, culminating in the perception of sound. The inner hair cells primarily act as auditory receptors, while the outer hair cells serve to refine sound frequency responses, contributing to the precision of hearing.