Mechanical stimuli generated by head movements and changes in sound pressure are detected by hair cells with amazing speed and sensitivity. The mechanosensitive organelle, the hair bundle, is a highly elaborated structure of actin-based stereocilia arranged in precise rows of increasing height. Extracellular linkages contribute to its cohesion and convey forces to mechanically gated channels. Channel opening is nearly instantaneous and is followed by a process of sensory adaptation that keeps the channels poised in their most sensitive range. This process is served by motors, scaffolds, and homeostatic mechanisms. The molecular constituents of this process are rapidly being elucidated, especially by the discovery of deafness genes and antibody targets.

中文翻译：

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毛细胞机械转导的微机械。

毛细胞以惊人的速度和灵敏度检测到由头部运动和声压变化产生的机械刺激。机械敏感的细胞器，即发束，是高度精细的肌动蛋白基立体纤毛结构，排列成高度递增的精确行。细胞外连接有助于其凝聚并将力传递至机械门控通道。通道打开几乎是瞬时的，随后是感觉适应过程，使通道保持在其最敏感的范围内。该过程由马达，脚手架和体内平衡机制完成。迅速阐明了该过程的分子组成，尤其是通过发现耳聋基因和抗体靶标。