The vestibular membrane, vestibular wall or Reissner's membrane is a
membrane
A membrane is a selective barrier; it allows some things to pass through but stops others. Such things may be molecules, ions, or other small particles. Membranes can be generally classified into synthetic membranes and biological membranes. Bi ...
inside the
cochlea
The cochlea is the part of the inner ear involved in hearing. It is a spiral-shaped cavity in the bony labyrinth, in humans making 2.75 turns around its axis, the modiolus (cochlea), modiolus. A core component of the cochlea is the organ of Cort ...
of the
inner ear
The inner ear (internal ear, auris interna) is the innermost part of the vertebrate ear. In vertebrates, the inner ear is mainly responsible for sound detection and balance. In mammals, it consists of the bony labyrinth, a hollow cavity in the ...
. It separates the
cochlear duct Cochlear, the adjective form of cochlea, may refer to:
* Cochlear implant, a sensory aid for the deaf
* Cochlear nuclei, the ventral cochlear nucleus and the dorsal (or lateral) cochlear nucleus
* Vestibular-cochlear or Vestibulocochlear nerve, ...
from the
vestibular duct
The vestibular duct or scala vestibuli is a perilymph-filled cavity inside the cochlea of the inner ear that conducts sound vibrations to the cochlear duct.
It is separated from the cochlear duct by Reissner's membrane and extends from the ve ...
. It helps to transmit vibrations from fluid in the vestibular duct to the cochlear duct. Together with the
basilar membrane
The basilar membrane is a stiff structural element within the cochlea of the inner ear which separates two liquid-filled tubes that run along the coil of the cochlea, the scala media and the scala tympani. The basilar membrane moves up and down ...
, it creates a compartment in the cochlea filled with
endolymph
Endolymph is the fluid contained in the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear. The major cation in endolymph is potassium, with the values of sodium and potassium concentration in the endolymph being 0.91 mM and 154 mM, respectively. ...
, which is important for the function of the spiral
organ of Corti
The organ of Corti, or spiral organ, is the receptor organ for hearing and is located in the mammalian cochlea. This highly varied strip of epithelial cells allows for transduction of auditory signals into nerve impulses' action potential. Trans ...
. It allows nutrients to travel from the
perilymph
Perilymph is an extracellular fluid located within the inner ear. It is found within the scala tympani and scala vestibuli of the cochlea. The ionic composition of perilymph is comparable to that of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. The major ca ...
to the
endolymph
Endolymph is the fluid contained in the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear. The major cation in endolymph is potassium, with the values of sodium and potassium concentration in the endolymph being 0.91 mM and 154 mM, respectively. ...
of the
membranous labyrinth
The membranous labyrinth is a collection of fluid filled tubes and chambers in the inner ear
The inner ear (internal ear, auris interna) is the innermost part of the vertebrate ear. In vertebrates, the inner ear is mainly responsible for soun ...
. It may be damaged in
Ménière's disease
Ménière's disease (MD) is a disease of the inner ear that is characterized by potentially severe and incapacitating episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness in the ear. Typically, only one ear is affected in ...
. It is named after the German
anatomist
Anatomy () is the branch of morphology concerned with the study of the internal structure of organisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch of natural science that deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old scien ...
Ernst Reissner.
Structure
The vestibular membrane separates the
cochlear duct Cochlear, the adjective form of cochlea, may refer to:
* Cochlear implant, a sensory aid for the deaf
* Cochlear nuclei, the ventral cochlear nucleus and the dorsal (or lateral) cochlear nucleus
* Vestibular-cochlear or Vestibulocochlear nerve, ...
(scala media) from the
vestibular duct
The vestibular duct or scala vestibuli is a perilymph-filled cavity inside the cochlea of the inner ear that conducts sound vibrations to the cochlear duct.
It is separated from the cochlear duct by Reissner's membrane and extends from the ve ...
(scala vestibuli).
Microanatomy
Histologically
Histology,
also known as microscopic anatomy or microanatomy, is the branch of biology that studies the microscopic anatomy of biological tissue (biology), tissues. Histology is the microscopic counterpart to gross anatomy, which looks at large ...
, the membrane is composed of two layers of flattened
epithelium
Epithelium or epithelial tissue is a thin, continuous, protective layer of cells with little extracellular matrix. An example is the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. Epithelial ( mesothelial) tissues line the outer surfaces of man ...
.
These are separated by a
basal lamina
The basal lamina is a layer of extracellular matrix secreted by the epithelial cells, on which the epithelium sits. It is often incorrectly referred to as the basement membrane, though it does constitute a portion of the basement membrane. The b ...
. Its structure suggests that its function is transport of fluid and
electrolytes
An electrolyte is a substance that conducts electricity through the movement of ions, but not through the movement of electrons. This includes most soluble salts, acids, and bases, dissolved in a polar solvent like water. Upon dissolving, t ...
.
Function
The vestibular membrane helps to transmit vibrations from fluid in the
vestibular duct
The vestibular duct or scala vestibuli is a perilymph-filled cavity inside the cochlea of the inner ear that conducts sound vibrations to the cochlear duct.
It is separated from the cochlear duct by Reissner's membrane and extends from the ve ...
to the
cochlear duct Cochlear, the adjective form of cochlea, may refer to:
* Cochlear implant, a sensory aid for the deaf
* Cochlear nuclei, the ventral cochlear nucleus and the dorsal (or lateral) cochlear nucleus
* Vestibular-cochlear or Vestibulocochlear nerve, ...
.
Together with the
basilar membrane
The basilar membrane is a stiff structural element within the cochlea of the inner ear which separates two liquid-filled tubes that run along the coil of the cochlea, the scala media and the scala tympani. The basilar membrane moves up and down ...
, the vestibular membrane creates a compartment in the cochlea filled with
endolymph
Endolymph is the fluid contained in the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear. The major cation in endolymph is potassium, with the values of sodium and potassium concentration in the endolymph being 0.91 mM and 154 mM, respectively. ...
. This is important for the function of the spiral
organ of Corti
The organ of Corti, or spiral organ, is the receptor organ for hearing and is located in the mammalian cochlea. This highly varied strip of epithelial cells allows for transduction of auditory signals into nerve impulses' action potential. Trans ...
. It primarily functions as a
diffusion
Diffusion is the net movement of anything (for example, atoms, ions, molecules, energy) generally from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration. Diffusion is driven by a gradient in Gibbs free energy or chemical p ...
barrier, allowing nutrients to travel from the
perilymph
Perilymph is an extracellular fluid located within the inner ear. It is found within the scala tympani and scala vestibuli of the cochlea. The ionic composition of perilymph is comparable to that of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. The major ca ...
to the
endolymph
Endolymph is the fluid contained in the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear. The major cation in endolymph is potassium, with the values of sodium and potassium concentration in the endolymph being 0.91 mM and 154 mM, respectively. ...
of the
membranous labyrinth
The membranous labyrinth is a collection of fluid filled tubes and chambers in the inner ear
The inner ear (internal ear, auris interna) is the innermost part of the vertebrate ear. In vertebrates, the inner ear is mainly responsible for soun ...
.
Clinical significance
The vestibular membrane may be ruptured by an increase in the pressure of endolymph in the cochlear duct.
This may occur in
Ménière's disease
Ménière's disease (MD) is a disease of the inner ear that is characterized by potentially severe and incapacitating episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness in the ear. Typically, only one ear is affected in ...
.
History
The vestibular membrane is also known as Reissner's membrane.
This alternative name is named after German
anatomist
Anatomy () is the branch of morphology concerned with the study of the internal structure of organisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch of natural science that deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old scien ...
Ernst Reissner (1824-1878).
Additional images
File:Gray929.png, Floor of cochlear duct.
File:Gray930.png, Spiral limbus and basilar membrane.
References
External links
*
*
Overviewat
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison (University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, UW, UW–Madison, or simply Madison) is a public land-grant research university in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. It was founded in 1848 when Wisconsin achieved st ...
Imageat
University of New England, Maine
The University of New England (UNE) is a private university, private research university in Portland, Maine, Portland and Biddeford, Maine, Biddeford, Maine, United States. It traces it historical origins to 1831 when Westbrook College, Westbroo ...
{{Auditory system
Auditory system
Ear