Final answer:
Cochlear tuning is a function of the outer hair cells, which fine-tune incoming sound waves and modulate the stiffness of cochlear structures, ultimately enhancing pitch resolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
While hearing is primarily a function of the inner hair cells, cochlear tuning is a function of the outer hair cells. The outer hair cells are arranged in three or four rows and number about 12,000. These cells function to fine-tune incoming sound waves, ensuring that the lifespan of a sound wave along the basilar membrane accurately matches the frequency of the sound being processed.
This tuning is critical for the precise determination of pitch and plays a role in the ability of our auditory system to separate sounds of different frequencies, much like how a prism separates light into its component colors.
The outer hair cells receive innervation from only about 10 percent of the afferent neurons, each one innervating many hair cells, in contrast with the inner hair cells, which are the primary auditory receptors. This organization allows the outer hair cells to modulate the mechanical stiffness of the cochlear structures and sharpen the resolution of frequency detection, enhancing the hearing experience.
The difference in frequency response between adjacent inner hair cells is minuscule, highlighting the need for such a fine-tuning mechanism to achieve the extreme pitch sensitivity of the human ear.