Vestibular hair cell-calyx illustration and microscopic image (IMAGE)
Caption
An illustration and microscopic images show the relationship between motion-sensing vestibular hair cells (blue) of the innermost ear and the cup-shaped “calyx” (green) structures of adjoining nerves that connect directly to the brain. The rapid flow of information through the synapses helps stabilize balance and vision in humans and many other animals. Researchers from Rice University, the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois Chicago created the first quantitative model that shows how potassium ions (K+) and electrical signals are transmitted across the synapses to rapidly deliver information to the brain.
Credit
Credit: Aravind Chenrayan Govindaraju/Rice University
Usage Restrictions
Must credit: Aravind Chenrayan Govindaraju/Rice University
License
Original content