The series of events required for an organism to receive an auditory stimulus, convert it to a molecular signal, and recognize and characterize the signal. Sonic stimuli are detected in the form of vibrations and are processed to form a sound.

A process that modulates the length of a microvillus.

A process that is carried out at the cellular level which results in the assembly, arrangement of constituent parts, or disassembly of a stereocilium. A stereocilium is an actin-based protrusion from the apical surface of inner ear receptor cells.

A process in which a protein is transported to, or maintained in, a location within a microvillus.

A process in which a protein is transported to, or maintained in, a location within a microvillus.

The aggregation, arrangement and bonding together of adjacent microvilli through the formation of Ca(2+)-dependent adhesion links between them, forming a brush border.

The aggregation, arrangement and bonding together of adjacent microvilli through the formation of Ca(2+)-dependent adhesion links between them, forming a brush border.

The mitotic cell cycle transition by which a cell in G2 commits to M phase. The process begins when the kinase activity of M cyclin/CDK complex reaches a threshold high enough for the cell cycle to proceed. This is accomplished by activating a positive feedback loop that results in the accumulation of unphosphorylated and active M cyclin/CDK complex.

The mitotic cell cycle transition by which a cell in G2 commits to M phase. The process begins when the kinase activity of M cyclin/CDK complex reaches a threshold high enough for the cell cycle to proceed. This is accomplished by activating a positive feedback loop that results in the accumulation of unphosphorylated and active M cyclin/CDK complex.

An action or movement due to the application of a sudden unexpected stimulus.

The series of events required for an organism to receive an auditory stimulus, convert it to a molecular signal, and recognize and characterize the signal. Sonic stimuli are detected in the form of vibrations and are processed to form a sound.

Assembly of actin filament bundles in which the filaments are tightly packed (approximately 10-20 nm apart) and oriented with the same polarity.

Assembly of actin filament bundles in which the filaments are tightly packed (approximately 10-20 nm apart) and oriented with the same polarity.

A process that modulates the length of a microvillus.

The process in which the anatomical structures of the inner ear are generated and organized. The inner ear is the structure in vertebrates that contains the organs of balance and hearing. It consists of soft hollow sensory structures (the membranous labyrinth) containing fluid (endolymph) surrounded by fluid (perilymph) and encased in a bony cavity (the bony labyrinth). It consists of two chambers, the sacculus and utriculus, from which arise the cochlea and semicircular canals respectively.

The process in which the anatomical structures of the inner ear are generated and organized. The inner ear is the structure in vertebrates that contains the organs of balance and hearing. It consists of soft hollow sensory structures (the membranous labyrinth) containing fluid (endolymph) surrounded by fluid (perilymph) and encased in a bony cavity (the bony labyrinth). It consists of two chambers, the sacculus and utriculus, from which arise the cochlea and semicircular canals respectively.

The process in which a relatively unspecialized cell acquires specialized features of an auditory hair cell.

The process in which a relatively unspecialized cell acquires specialized features of an auditory hair cell.

The aggregation, arrangement and bonding together of a set of components to form a protein complex, occurring at the level of an individual cell.

The aggregation, arrangement and bonding together of a set of components to form a protein complex, occurring at the level of an individual cell.

Any process preventing the degeneration of the photoreceptor, a specialized cell type that is sensitive to light.

Any process preventing the degeneration of the photoreceptor, a specialized cell type that is sensitive to light.

Development of a cone cell, one of the sensory cells in the eye that reacts to the presence of light. Cone cells contain the photopigment iodopsin or cyanopsin and are responsible for photopic (daylight) vision.

A process that is carried out at the cellular level which results in the assembly, arrangement of constituent parts, or disassembly of a synapse, the junction between a neuron and a target (neuron, muscle, or secretory cell).

Any process that an organism uses to control its balance, the orientation of the organism (or the head of the organism) in relation to the source of gravity. In humans and animals, balance is perceived through visual cues, the labyrinth system of the inner ears and information from skin pressure receptors and muscle and joint receptors.

The series of events required for an organism to receive a sensory light stimulus, convert it to a molecular signal, and recognize and characterize the signal. This is a neurological process.

The series of events required for an organism to receive a sensory light stimulus, convert it to a molecular signal, and recognize and characterize the signal. This is a neurological process.

The series of events required for an organism to receive an orientational stimulus, convert it to a molecular signal, and recognize and characterize the signal. Equilibrioception refers to a combination of processes by which an organism can perceive its orientation with respect to gravity. In animals, stimuli come from labyrinth system of the inner ears, monitoring the direction of motion; visual stimuli, with information on orientation and motion; pressure receptors, which tell the organism which body surfaces are in contact with the ground; and proprioceptive cues, which report which parts of the body are in motion.

The series of events required for an organism to receive an orientational stimulus, convert it to a molecular signal, and recognize and characterize the signal. Equilibrioception refers to a combination of processes by which an organism can perceive its orientation with respect to gravity. In animals, stimuli come from labyrinth system of the inner ears, monitoring the direction of motion; visual stimuli, with information on orientation and motion; pressure receptors, which tell the organism which body surfaces are in contact with the ground; and proprioceptive cues, which report which parts of the body are in motion.

The assembly of actin filament bundles; actin filaments are on the same axis but may be oriented with the same or opposite polarities and may be packed with different levels of tightness.

The assembly of actin filament bundles; actin filaments are on the same axis but may be oriented with the same or opposite polarities and may be packed with different levels of tightness.

A process that is carried out at the cellular level which results in the assembly, arrangement of constituent parts, or disassembly of a stereocilium. A stereocilium is an actin-based protrusion from the apical surface of inner ear receptor cells.

A process in which a protein is transported to, or maintained in, a location within a microvillus.

The aggregation, arrangement and bonding together of adjacent microvilli through the formation of Ca(2+)-dependent adhesion links between them, forming a brush border.

The outer segment of a vertebrate photoreceptor that contains discs of photoreceptive membranes.

The inner segment of a vertebrate photoreceptor containing mitochondria, ribosomes and membranes where opsin molecules are assembled and passed to be part of the outer segment discs.

The membrane surrounding a cell that separates the cell from its external environment. It consists of a phospholipid bilayer and associated proteins.

An actin-based protrusion from the apical surface of auditory and vestibular hair cells and of neuromast cells. These protrusions are supported by a bundle of cross-linked actin filaments (an actin cable), oriented such that the plus (barbed) ends are at the tip of the protrusion, capped by a tip complex which bridges to the plasma. Bundles of stereocilia act as mechanosensory organelles.

The junction between a nerve fiber of one neuron and another neuron, muscle fiber or glial cell. As the nerve fiber approaches the synapse it enlarges into a specialized structure, the presynaptic nerve ending, which contains mitochondria and synaptic vesicles. At the tip of the nerve ending is the presynaptic membrane; facing it, and separated from it by a minute cleft (the synaptic cleft) is a specialized area of membrane on the receiving cell, known as the postsynaptic membrane. In response to the arrival of nerve impulses, the presynaptic nerve ending secretes molecules of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. These diffuse across the cleft and transmit the signal to the postsynaptic membrane.

Thin cylindrical membrane-covered projections on the surface of an animal cell containing a core bundle of actin filaments. Present in especially large numbers on the absorptive surface of intestinal cells.

The dense covering of microvilli on the apical surface of a epithelial cells in tissues such as the intestine, kidney, and choroid plexus; the microvilli aid absorption by increasing the surface area of the cell.

The outer segment of a vertebrate photoreceptor that contains discs of photoreceptive membranes.

The inner segment of a vertebrate photoreceptor containing mitochondria, ribosomes and membranes where opsin molecules are assembled and passed to be part of the outer segment discs.

All of the contents of a cell excluding the plasma membrane and nucleus, but including other subcellular structures.

All of the contents of a cell excluding the plasma membrane and nucleus, but including other subcellular structures.

The part of the cytoplasm that does not contain organelles but which does contain other particulate matter, such as protein complexes.

The part of the cytoplasm that does not contain organelles but which does contain other particulate matter, such as protein complexes.

The membrane surrounding a cell that separates the cell from its external environment. It consists of a phospholipid bilayer and associated proteins.

Thin cylindrical membrane-covered projections on the surface of an animal cell containing a core bundle of actin filaments. Present in especially large numbers on the absorptive surface of intestinal cells.

Thin cylindrical membrane-covered projections on the surface of an animal cell containing a core bundle of actin filaments. Present in especially large numbers on the absorptive surface of intestinal cells.

The dense covering of microvilli on the apical surface of a epithelial cells in tissues such as the intestine, kidney, and choroid plexus; the microvilli aid absorption by increasing the surface area of the cell.

The dense covering of microvilli on the apical surface of a epithelial cells in tissues such as the intestine, kidney, and choroid plexus; the microvilli aid absorption by increasing the surface area of the cell.

An actin-based protrusion from the apical surface of auditory and vestibular hair cells and of neuromast cells. These protrusions are supported by a bundle of cross-linked actin filaments (an actin cable), oriented such that the plus (barbed) ends are at the tip of the protrusion, capped by a tip complex which bridges to the plasma. Bundles of stereocilia act as mechanosensory organelles.

An actin-based protrusion from the apical surface of auditory and vestibular hair cells and of neuromast cells. These protrusions are supported by a bundle of cross-linked actin filaments (an actin cable), oriented such that the plus (barbed) ends are at the tip of the protrusion, capped by a tip complex which bridges to the plasma. Bundles of stereocilia act as mechanosensory organelles.

The region of a polarized cell that forms a tip or is distal to a base. For example, in a polarized epithelial cell, the apical region has an exposed surface and lies opposite to the basal lamina that separates the epithelium from other tissue.

The region of a polarized cell that forms a tip or is distal to a base. For example, in a polarized epithelial cell, the apical region has an exposed surface and lies opposite to the basal lamina that separates the epithelium from other tissue.

The junction between a nerve fiber of one neuron and another neuron, muscle fiber or glial cell. As the nerve fiber approaches the synapse it enlarges into a specialized structure, the presynaptic nerve ending, which contains mitochondria and synaptic vesicles. At the tip of the nerve ending is the presynaptic membrane; facing it, and separated from it by a minute cleft (the synaptic cleft) is a specialized area of membrane on the receiving cell, known as the postsynaptic membrane. In response to the arrival of nerve impulses, the presynaptic nerve ending secretes molecules of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. These diffuse across the cleft and transmit the signal to the postsynaptic membrane.