Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How does bending hair cells away from the kinocilium affect nerve firing?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
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 on hair cells in the vestibular system bend away from the kinocilium, the ion channels in the hair cell membrane close. This prevents potassium ions from entering the cell, which results in hyperpolarization.1
This hyperpolarization inhibits the hair cell, leading to a decrease in the firing rate of the associated neurons that send impulses to the brain. Conversely, bending toward the kinocilium opens these channels, causing depolarization and an increase in nerve firing.1