cochlear hair cell morphology trait cochlear outer hair cell morphology trait VT:0004399 cochlear OHC morphology trait Trait.ontology Any measurable or observable characteristic related to the shape, structure, color, or pattern of the sensory cells of the organ of Corti which are in synaptic contact with sensory as well as efferent fibers of the auditory nerve; there are three rows of columnar outer hair cells largely surrounded by cortilymph and supporting phalangeal cells; the apical end of each cell is anchored to the cuticular plate and about 100 stereocilia arranged in a V-shaped pattern extend from the cell's surface through the cuticular plate into the tectorial membrane.