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16
when the head is moved form a position of equilibrium , what happens? 4
1. the gelatinous membrane and embedded otoconia tend to move with respect to the receptor cells, causing
bending of the stereocilia and stretching of the tiplinks, which are associated with ion channels
2. hair cells have a basal level of activity, generating action potentials at a constant rate from the associated vestibular nerve endings.
3. Deflection of the stereocilia towards the kinocilium will depolarize (excite) the hair cell membrane and increase the frequency of action potentials; deflection away from the kinocilium will hyperpolarize (inhibit) the hair cell
membrane and reduce the frequency of action potentials.
4. Varied orientations of the hair cells within the utricular and saccular maculae allows the brain to accurately determine the direction
of gravity and the position of the head.
bending of the stereocilia and stretching of the tiplinks, which are associated with ion channels
2. hair cells have a basal level of activity, generating action potentials at a constant rate from the associated vestibular nerve endings.
3. Deflection of the stereocilia towards the kinocilium will depolarize (excite) the hair cell membrane and increase the frequency of action potentials; deflection away from the kinocilium will hyperpolarize (inhibit) the hair cell
membrane and reduce the frequency of action potentials.
4. Varied orientations of the hair cells within the utricular and saccular maculae allows the brain to accurately determine the direction
of gravity and the position of the head.
