Incredible Hair Cells Definition References. They are characterized by having long stereocilia or kinocilia (or both) which, with the light microscope, appear as fine hairs. Web sensory hair cells are highly specialized mechanosensitive cells found in all vertebrate animals in some related chordates (tunicates).

What does hair cell mean? Through mechanotransduction, hair cells detect movement in their environment. They are cylindrical in shape and feature many stereocilia on their apical ends.





