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How do hair cells respond when their stereocilia bend toward the kinocilium?
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Mechanoreception
In human skin, specialized nerve endings known as Meissner's corpuscles (or tactile corpuscles) are sensitive to touch. They are one of several different types of mechanoreceptors found in human skin.
When stereocilia bend toward the kinocilium, ion channels located in the membrane of the hair cell open. This opening allows for the influx of potassium ions into the cell, which results in depolarization. This process is a fundamental aspect of how hair cells convert mechanical movement into electrical signals that are relayed to the brain.1