Tectorial membrane

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Section through the cochlea: structure of the organ of Corti, tectorial membrane shown in red.

The tectorial membrane ( membrana tectoria or cover membrane ) is a gelatinous covering layer within the cochlea . It is attached to the spiral rim ( limbus spiralis ) of the organ of Corti and covers it. The tectorial membrane consists of collagen fibrils (especially type II, also V, IX and XI) and amorphous ground substance , but does not contain any cells . The sensory hairs ( stereovilli ) of the outer hair cells protrude into the tectorial membrane .

The tectorial membrane plays an important role in converting mechanical vibrations into nerve impulses ( transduction ). When the partition of the organ of Corti vibrates, the stereovilli of the outer hair cells are sheared and, through hydrodynamic coupling, that of the inner hair cells as well.

literature

  • Renate Lüllmann-Rauch: Histology. 3. Edition. Georg Thieme Verlag, 2009, ISBN 978-3-13-129243-8 , pp. 565f.
  • Robert F. Schmidt: Physiology compact. 4th edition. Springer, 2001, ISBN 3-540-41346-4 , p. 117.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Renate Lüllmann-Rauch: Pocket textbook histology . 3. Edition. Georg Thieme Verlag, ISBN 978-3-13-129243-8 , p. 565 f .