Stereocilia: Definition from Answers.com

Stereocilia are apical modifications of the cell, which are distinct from microvilli and cilia.

Though their name is more similar to cilia, they are actually more closely related to microvilli, and some sources consider them to be a variant of microvilli rather than their own distinct type of structure. It is a long projection of cell membrane, similar in structure to microvillus

They are characterized by their length (distinguishing them from microvilli) and their lack of motility (distinguishing them from cilia).

They are found in three regions of the body:

the ductus deferens
the epididymis (see stereocilia (epididymis) for more details)
the inner ear (see stereocilia (inner ear) for more details)

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Histology: epithelial tissue

Types

Columnar (simple, stratified) · Cuboidal (simple, stratified) · Pseudostratified (Respiratory) · Squamous (simple, stratified) · Transitional/Urothelium · Olfactory · Corneal

Features

Lateral/cell-cell	Tight junction (Claudin, Occludin) · Adherens junction (Cadherin) · Desmosome (Desmoplakin, Plakoglobin, Tonofibril, Desmoglein) · Gap junction (Connexon, Connexin)

Basal/cell-matrix	Basal lamina · Hemidesmosome (Tonofibril) · Focal adhesion · Costamere

Apical	Cilia · Microvilli · Stereocilia

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	What is the function of the stereocilia exhibited by the epithelial cells of the mucosa of the epididymis?
	Do stereocilia have goblet cell?

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