NUMERICAL SIMULATION ON THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF OUTER STEREOCILIA IN CORTI
In this paper, a two-dimensional model of the organ of Corti (OC) which includes basilar membrane (BM), tectorial membrane (TM), inner and outer hair cells and reticular lamina (RL) is established by Comsol. Based on experimental data that sinusoidal excitation was applied on the pectinate zone of the BM, the incentives are added to the corresponding position of the model. Transient analysis is made and the displacement of six different positions is achieved. The results are in good agreement with experimental data, which confirms the validity of the FE model. Based on time-domain and frequency-domain analysis, the relative motion between stereocilia and TM and RL is studied under sinusoidal excitation. The results show that, under time-domain analysis, the whole trend of relative displacement and velocity difference of Inner is similar to that of Outer, while there is little different when comparing with Middle. The relative velocity difference of Middle and Inner lag behind Outer with roughly 0.01[Formula: see text]s. Under frequency-domain analysis, at characteristic frequency, the deviation of each stereocilium is the largest. In the meantime, the frequency that the maximum value of outer stereocilia achieved is different. This new finding may cause the difference of lateral vibration of BM and indicate the frequency sensitivity of BM.