A–C. Further progression of re-modelling on the lateral side of the pillar cell region.

<p><b>A.</b> The outer (lateral) side of the organ of Corti during re-modelling to show relative positions of different cell types. Boettcher's cells (Bc) are in position at the lateralmost side and appear to form the outer border. Deiters' cells (Dc) are flattened and covered by Claudius' and Hensen's cells (Cc, Hc) that have expanded medially (towards the pillar cells), but they retain their specialised microtubule bundles (arrows). Scale bar: 5 µm. <b>B.</b> The body of the outer pillar (op) is flattened and covered by Deiters' cells, but prominent, organised microtubule bundles are retained (arrows). The head of the outer pillar appears to have separated from the cell body as Deiters' cell spreads through to the tunnel of Corti. Scale bar: 5 µm. <b>C.</b> Cell with numerous microvilli at the apical surface and the cytoplasmic characteristics of Hensen's cell (Hc) in contact with inner phalangeal cell (identified by the dense cytoplasm) at the approximate site where the IHC used to be. A cell with cytoplasmic characteristics of Claudius' cell (Cc) expands across the apical surface of the epithelium. One inner phalangeal cell encloses cell debris (arrow). Scale bar: 5 µm. <b>D–F. Inner pillar cell during remodelling. </b><b>D.</b> Heads of inner pillar cells (ip) retract to expose the apical surfaces of the outer pillar cells beneath. Scale bar: 5 µm. <b>E.</b> The retracting tip of the head of the inner pillar cell is associated with a sub-membrane density that resembles the thin section appearance of a microfilament assembly. Scale bar: 2 µm. <b>F.</b> The inner pillar cell becomes flattened and covered by the expanding inner phalangeal and inner border cells but it retains prominent organised microtubule bundles (arrows). Scale bar: 2 µm.