Mechanotransduction in Sensory Hair Cells: An Open-And-Shut Case? – Carole Hackney (p.25)

The mechanosensitive hair cells of the vertebrate inner ear and lateral line system possess an apical bundle of stereocilia that are arranged in rows of increasing height. The stereocilia are actually modified microvilli rather than true cilia, and contain a core of actin filaments (Fig 1). They behave like stiff rods pivoting around their insertions into the cell when they are deflected (Flock et al. 1977).