Stereocilia

Stereocilia (or stereovilli) are non-motile apical cell modifications. They are distinct from cilia and microvilli, but are closely related to microvilli. They form single "finger-like" projections that may be branched, with normal cell membrane characteristics. They contain actin. Stereocilia are found in the vas deferens, the epididymis, and the sensory cells of the inner ear.

Stereocilia
Stereocilia of frog inner ear
Identifiers
MeSHD059547
THH1.00.01.1.01013
Anatomical terms of microanatomy

Structure

Stereocilia are cylindrical and non-motile. They are much longer and thicker than microvilli, form single "finger-like" projections that may be branched, and have more of the characteristics of the cellular membrane proper. Like microvilli, they contain actin[1] and lack an axoneme. This distinguishes them from cilia.

They do not contain basal granules. They may or may not be covered by a glycocalyx coating. They have no fixed arrangement, different to the structure present in kinocilium.

Function

Stereocilia are found in:

  • the vas deferens.
  • the epididymis. Some consider epididymal stereocilia to be a variant of microvilli, rather than their own distinct type of structure.[2]
  • the sensory (hair) cells of the inner ear.

References
  1. Tilney, Lewis G.; Tilney, Mary S.; DeRosier, David J. (November 1992). "Actin Filaments, Stereocilia, and Hair Cells: How Cells Count and Measure". Annual Review of Cell Biology. 8 (1): 257–274. doi:10.1146/annurev.cb.08.110192.001353. ISSN 0743-4634. PMID 1476800.
  2. Krause J. William (July 2005). Krause's Essential Human Histology for Medical Students. Universal-Publishers. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-58112-468-2.
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