Neural connections of the outer haircell system.

The afferent innervation of the outer hair cells consists of a special type of neuron, distinguished by its characteristic structure and particular degeneration behavior. The connections of these neurons to the sensory cell, the central nervous system and the other cochlear neurons have been studied from different aspects and under various experimental conditions. There is evidence that the neurons are not effectively connected to the central nervous system, have no functional interconnections to other neurons and their functional significance in the adult animal is only rudimentary.