Question

Inner hair cells are primarily responsible for communicating information about sound to the brain, whereas outer hair cells are believed to:

1) Amplify sound vibrations
2) Protect the inner ear from loud noises
3) Regulate the flow of fluid in the cochlea
4) Enhance the perception of pitch and loudness

Answer 1

Outer hair cells in the ear are believed to amplify sound vibrations, assisting in the enhancement of our ability to perceive pitch and loudness.

Step-by-step explanation:

Role of Outer Hair Cells in the Ear

While inner hair cells are primarily responsible for transmitting sound information to the brain, the outer hair cells play a different role in the auditory system. These outer hair cells are believed to amplify sound vibrations within the cochlea. Through their motility, they can increase the movement of the cochlear fluid in response to sound, which in turn enhances the movement of the inner hair cells and thus contributes to an increase in the signal sent to the brain. This amplification mechanism helps in the fine-tuning of our hearing sensitivity, allowing us to hear softer sounds and to distinguish between different sound frequencies. The function of the outer hair cells contributes significantly to our ability to discern pitch and loudness of sounds.