Some Morphological Observations of Reissner's Membrane

Abstract

Light microscopic photographs of the dissected Reissner's membrane of an albino guinea pig were shown. Polygonal flat epithelial cells on the side of the scala media are larger on the outer side of the membrane than on the inner side of it. Bet-ween the outer and the inner sides of this membrane a transitional zone was noticed. Viewed from the inner side of the membrane, this zone—covering the area from the base to the apex—is nearer the base than the apex. It may be assumed that the outer larger cells are more active in their function than the inner smaller cells. There might also be reason to assume that the epithelial cells of Reissner's membrane grow larger as they move from the inner to the outer side of it.