Regarding the afferent innervation of the organ of Corti, approximately 90 percent of the afferent auditory nerve fibres synapse with which cells?
- A Outer hair cells
- B Inner phalangeal cells
- C Inner hair cells ✓
- D Hensen cells
Correct answer: C. Inner hair cells
Explanation
About 90 percent of the afferent fibres of the spiral ganglion supply the roughly 3,500 inner hair cells, which are therefore the primary sensory transducers sending auditory information to the brain. The far more numerous outer hair cells receive most of their innervation from the efferent olivocochlear bundle and act as cochlear amplifiers. Inner phalangeal and Hensen cells are supporting cells with no neural role, so they serve only as distractors.
Reference: Ganong's Review of Medical Physiology, 26th ed.
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