Tectorial membrane (magnified)
Membrana tectoria
Sensory (eye & ear)OrgansWhole body
- What it is
- A gelatinous, acellular ribbon anchored to the spiral limbus that floats over the hair cells; the tallest stereocilia of the outer hair cells are embedded in its underside, while those of the inner hair cells stand free just beneath it.
- Function
- Shears against the stereocilia when the basilar membrane moves, bending them and opening their ion channels.
- Size
- Real thickness about 30 micrometres, width 0.1-0.2 mm.
- Clinical note
- Mutations in its collagen and tectorin proteins cause inherited forms of deafness.