Hensen's cell

Hensen's cells are a layer of tall supporting cells around the outer hair cells (OHC) in the organ of Corti in the cochlea. Their appearance are upper part wide with lower part narrow, column like cells. One significant morphologic feature of Hensen's cells is the lipid droplets, which are most noticeable at the third and forth turns of the cochlear, the lipid droplets are thought to have association with the auditory process because they are parallel to the innervation. One significant structure found among the Hensen's cells and the hair cells are the gap junctions, which are made of connexins which serve important functions in distribution and connection between cells; the gap junctions enable long distance electrical communication.