Tectorial membrane (cochlea)
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| Tectorial membrane (cochlea) | |
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| Section through the spiral organ of Corti. (Membrana tectoria labeled at center top.) | |
| Latin | membrana tectoria ductus cochlearis |
| Gray's | subject #232 1058 |
| MeSH | Tectorial+Membrane |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | m_08/12522277 |
Covering the sulcus spiralis internus and the spiral organ of Corti is the tectorial membrane, which is attached to the limbus laminae spiralis close to the inner edge of the vestibular membrane.
Its inner part is thin and overlies the auditory teeth of Huschke; its outer part is thick, and along its lower surface, opposite the inner hair cells, is a clear band, named Hensen's stripe, due to the intercrossing of its fibers.
The lateral margin of the membrane is much thinner.
Hardesty considers the tectorial membrane as the vibrating mechanism in the cochlea.
It is inconceivably delicate and flexible; far more sensitively flexible in the transverse than in the longitudinal direction and the readiness with which it bends when touched is beyond description.
It is ectodermal in origin.
It consists of fine colorless fibers embedded in a transparent matrix (the matrix may be a variety of soft keratin), of a soft collagenous, semisolid character with marked adhesiveness.
The general transverse direction of the fibers inclines from the radius of the cochlea toward the apex.
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