The Attachment of the Cupulae, Otolith and Tectorial Membranes to the Sensory Cell Areas

Abstract

Using colloidal iron staining or post-fixation with ruthenium tetroxide it could be evidenced that the interstitial cells on the sensory areas in the inner ear in pigeons produce a fibrillar network sur- rounding every hair bundle of the sensory cells. This network ties the overlying membrane to the surface of the sensory area. The compartments created by the interstitial cells constitute fluid-filled plastic tubes in which the hairs are suspended. This arrangement gives mechanically a preference for a shearing movement, which bends the hair bundles in their compartments in exact accordance with the fluid displacement in the canal. This gives the highest sensitivity with the lowest expenditure of energy. Morphological reasons for a continuous renewal and a slow disaggregation of the cupulae, tectorial and other membranes are presented.