Balance and modes of energy in the piezoelectric cochlear outer hair cell wall

The cochlear outer hair cell is unique in that it can produce voltage-dependent length changes (electromotility). This aspect of the outer hair cell makes it a potential candidate for cochlear amplification. We model the outer hair cell with piezoelectric relationships in order to characterize the various energies involved in electromotility. We also take into account the tension-dependence of the cellular response by using a new method to estimate the tension-dependent coefficients of the resultants. We present balance of mechanical and electrical energies, and show how the assorted energy modes react to different voltages and axial forces. The balance of energy modes presented here is important for analysis into the effectiveness of the cochlear outer hair cell as a biological piezoelectric actuator.