The Mechanical Forces That Shape Our Senses

The document reviewed how mechanical forces influenced the development of sensory organs, including hair placode formation in the skin. It emphasized the role of mechanical cues, such as substrate stiffness and cellular contractility, in patterning hair follicles and other sensory structures. The study of these forces was primarily conducted in model organisms, with human cell-based models like organoids showing promise for mimicking sensory organ development. The review highlighted challenges such as variability in organoid models and the need for comprehensive systems to understand the integration of mechanical and biochemical signals. It suggested that microphysiological systems could advance the study of sensory organ development and function.