Vestibular membrane
| Vestibular membrane | |
|---|---|
 Diagrammatic longitudinal section of the cochlea. | |
 Cross section of the cochlea. | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | membrana vestibularis ductus cochlearis |
| Anatomical terminology | |
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (June 2015) |
The vestibular membrane, vestibular wall or Reissner's membrane, is a membrane inside the cochlea of the inner ear. It separates the cochlear duct from the vestibular duct. Together with the basilar membrane it creates a compartment in the cochlea filled with endolymph, which is important for the function of the spiral organ of Corti. It primarily functions as a diffusion barrier, allowing nutrients to travel from the perilymph to the endolymph of the membranous labyrinth.
Histologically, the membrane is composed of two layers of flattened epithelium, separated by a basal lamina. Its structure suggests that its function is transport of fluid and electrolytes.
Reissner's membrane is named after German anatomist Ernst Reissner (1824-1878).
Additional images
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Floor of cochlear duct. -
Spiral limbus and basilar membrane.
