Definition of Inner ear regeneration
Inner ear regeneration is the biological process by which the hair cells and supporting cells (i.e. Hensen's cells and Deiters cells) of the ear proliferate (cell proliferation) and regrow after hair cell injury. This process depends on communication between supporting cells and the brain. Because of the volatility of the inner ear's hair cells, regeneration is crucial to the functioning of the inner ear. It is also a limited process, which contributes to the irreversibility of hearing loss in humans and other mammals.
Terms mentioned above
Related terms
Hensen's cell
Hensen's cells are a layer of tall supporting cells around the outer hair cells (OHC) in…
Kinocilium
A kinocilium is a special type of cilium on the apex of hair cells located in the…
Deiters' cells
Deiters' cells, also known as outer phalangeal cells or cells of Deiters (English: )…
Claudius cell
Claudius cells are considered as supporting cells within the organ of Corti in the…
Tip link
Tip links are extracellular filaments that connect stereocilia to each other or to the…
Boettcher cell
Boettcher cells are a special cell type located in the inner ear.
Greenwood function
The Greenwood function correlates the position of the hair cells in the inner ear to the…
Stereocilia (inner ear)
In the inner ear, stereocilia are the mechanosensing organelles of hair cells, which…
Spiral ganglion
The spiral (cochlear) ganglion is a group of neuron cell bodies in the modiolus, the…
Frequently asked questions
What is Inner ear regeneration?
Inner ear regeneration is the biological process by which the hair cells and supporting cells (i.e. Hensen's cells and Deiters cells) of the ear proliferate (cell proliferation) and regrow after hair cell injury.