title: Mechanical properties of human round window, basilar and Reissner's membranes.
abstract: In order to measure the mechanical strength of small and delicate biological specimens, a microtesting system was developed. We measured the mechanical properties of the round window, basilar and Reissner's membranes taken from the autopsied cases. The testing method was a displacement of the specimen by a force sensor needle until rupture. A load-displacement curve was then drawn and the mechanical value of each specimen was calculated. Reissner's membrane was the weakest, though it showed a measurable strength. From the load-displacement curve of the basilar membrane, it could be displaced by a smaller force than the rupture strength of Reissner's membrane. Speculation about the concept of a negative summating potential in Meniere's disease is therefore theoretically possible from a mechanical point of view.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001489:Basilar Membrane / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D003053:Cochlear Duct / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008566:Membranes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D012405:Round Window, Ear / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure