Reissner's membrane
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Reissner's membrane | |
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| Diagrammatic longitudinal section of the cochlea. (label is 'vestibular membrane') | |
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| Cross section of the cochlea. | |
| Latin | paries vestibularis ductus cochlearis |
| Gray's | subject #232 1054 |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | p_06/12615626 |
Reissner's membrane (vestibular membrane, vestibular wall) is a membrane inside the cochlea of the inner ear. It separates scala media from scala vestibuli. Together with the basilar membrane it creates a compartment in the cochlea filled with endolymph, which is important for the function of the organ of Corti. It primarily functions as a diffusion barrier, allowing nutrients to travel from the perilymph to the endolymph of the membranous labyrinth.
Histologically, the membrane is composed of two layers of flattened epithelium, separated by a basal lamina. Its structure suggests that its function is transport of fluid and electrolytes.
Reissner's membrane is named after German anatomist Ernst Reissner (1824-1878).
[edit] Additional images
 Transverse section of the cochlear duct of a fetal cat. |
 Floor of ductus cochlearis. |
 Limbus laminæ spiralis and membrana basilaris. |
[edit] External links
- vestibular+membrane at eMedicine Dictionary
- Histology at KUMC eye_ear-ear03
- UIUC Histology Subject 76
- Powerpoint at University of Toronto
- Overview at University of Wisconsin-Madison
- description at University of Texas
- Image at University of New England, Maine
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