OBJECTIVES:

1. Understand the structures (and their functions) that comprise the membranous vs. the bony labyrinth of the inner ear.
   
   
2. Know the structures and locations of sensory areas within the membranous labyrinth, and their different functions.
   
   
3. Understand how mechanosensory transduction takes place, including how a K+ gradient is set up at the level of the hair cell.

The digital slides as well as the glass slides in your sets will show all of the cochlear structures. The vestibular structures will be present only in selected slides. The inner ear consists of a series of interconnecting sacs and tubes (the membranous labyrinth) suspended in cavities within the bone (the osseous or bony labyrinth).

I. Bony Labyrinth (W pgs 414-19, 21.20, 21.24; R pgs 884-5, plate 104)

!! If on campus, remember to map a drive to the file server (click here), and USE THE [WinLab] LINKS !!

Slide 80a (cochlea, guinea pig, H&E) [WinLab] [Mac] [WinHome]
Slide EAR-1 (petrous temporal bone, human, H&E) [WinLab] [Mac] [WinHome]
Slide EAR-2 (petrous temporal bone, human, H&E) [WinLab] [Mac] [WinHome]
Slide EAR-3 (petrous temporal bone, human, H&E) [WinLab] [Mac] [WinHome]
Slide EAR-4 (petrous temporal bone, human, H&E) [WinLab] [Mac] [WinHome]

1. Between the vestibule and middle ear is a tissue-covered hole in the bone, the “oval window”. The footplate of the stapes [example] is attached to the oval window on the middle ear side. Here, vibrations of the tympanic membrane are converted into fluid vibrations of perilymph via the bones of the middle ear.
   
   
2. The cochlea [example], located anteriomedially to the vestibule consists of a tube spiraling around a bony axis (the modiolus).

The innervation of the cochlea and vestibule is as follows: The cell bodies of the cochlear neurons occupy a canal (the spiral canal) that spirals up the modiolus. This spiral aggregate of nerve cells is called the spiral (or cochlear) ganglion [example] [ORIENTATION] (W pg 418, 21.24; pg 422, 21.26). Keep in mind that these are bipolar sensory neurons: their dendrites synapse with the hair cells in the organ of Corti (discussed below) and their axons come together in the cochlear nerve, which occupies a central canal in the modiolus and exits at the base of the cochlea. In the sensory regions of the vestibule, hair cells of the maculae and cristae (discussed below) synapse with dendrites of a corresponding aggregation of sensory neurons in the vestibular (or Scarpa's) ganglion (seen in slide EAR-2) [example], which then send their axons through the vestibular nerve. The processes of the vestibular nerve join with those of the cochlear nerve to form the vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII) [ORIENTATION].

Other anatomical features of interest found within this region of the temporal bone in slide EAR-1 include the stapedius muscle [example], which is a thin bundle of skeletal muscle (innervated by the facial nerve) attached to the base of the stapes to dampen its movement. Also present is the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) and, if the plane of section happens to be at the genu of the facial nerve, neuron cell bodies of the geniculate ganglion [example]. (Quick neuroanatomy quiz: what is the function of the geniculate ganglion? (EAR1). The EAR-1 slide also shows some CNS tissue in the cranial vault [example]; see if you can identify this organ. [answer]

II. Membranous labyrinth
Slide 80a (cochlea, guinea pig, H&E) [WinLab] [Mac] [WinHome]
Slide EAR-1 (petrous temporal bone, human, H&E) [WinLab] [Mac] [WinHome]
Slide EAR-2 (petrous temporal bone, human, H&E) [WinLab] [Mac] [WinHome]
Slide EAR-3 (petrous temporal bone, human, H&E) [WinLab] [Mac] [WinHome]
Slide EAR-4 (petrous temporal bone, human, H&E) [WinLab] [Mac] [WinHome]

The membranous labyrinth consists of the interconnected utricle, saccule, three semicircular ducts, the endolymphatic duct and sac, and the cochlear duct. It contains a fluid, endolymph, much like intracellular fluid in composition (high K+, low Na+). You will not have difficulty recognizing the cochlear duct (scala media).

1. The utricle and the saccule contain the otolith organs that lie within the bony vestibule [ORIENTATION]. These otolith organs consist of sensory areas called maculae (W pg 422-3, 21.27), and you should note that they are oriented somewhat perpendicular to each other to be able detect movement in different planes. Taking a closer look at the macula of the utricle (visible in slide EAR-2) [example], you should be able to identify the sensory epithelium comprised of hair cells and supporting cells (these can't be differentiated in the light microscope, but you should know the functions of each). It is overlaid by a gelatinous material (otolithic membrane) in which are embedded calcite crystals (otoliths or otoconia). The otoconia are quite visible in some slides, hardly visible in others. Beneath the sensory epithelium is a delicate connective tissue (filled with perilymph) and nerve fibers from the bipolar neurons of the vestibular (Scarpa's) ganglion. Recall that maculae detect linear acceleration.

2. The semicircular ducts have dilations (ampullae) near their origins from the utricle. Each ampulla has a ridge of tissue, or crista ampullaris, (best seen in slide EAR-4) [example] that projects into the lumen. The crista has a sensory epithelium similar to that of the macula; recall, however, that the cristae are specialized to detect angular (or rotational) acceleration. The hairs of the hair cells project into a gelatinous material called the cupula (W pgs. 424-5, 21.28; R pg 885, plt 104). The cupula projects into the lumen more than the otolithic membrane of the macula, and lacks otoconia. What would happen if any otoconia were to become lodged in the cupula? (EAR2) Note that the "membrane" of the membranous labyrinth is suspended from the bone by a delicate connective tissue and that in the Ear-1 and Ear-2 slides this tissue has torn such that the membrane is now squished up against the crista, so there's not much of the cupula that can be seen. [ORIENTATION]

3. The cochlear duct or scala media (W pgs 418-9; R pg 878, 25.17) [example] contains the organ of Corti (W pgs 420-1, 21.25; R pg 887, plate 105), which detects sound (hearing). The cochlear duct is a triangular tube that is suspended in the middle of the spiraling bony labyrinth of the cochlea, thus subdividing this space into three spiraling sub-compartments, or “scalae”: the scala vestibuli, which opens on the vestibule; the scala media; and the scala tympani, which ends at the round window (the round window is not seen in any your slides). The scala vestibuli and scala tympani are both elements of the bony labyrinth and contain perilymph; the scala media or cochlear duct is an element of the membranous labyrinth and contains endolymph.

Elements of the cochlear duct that can be seen in cross section are: [ORIENTATION]

1. The vestibular membrane (also called Reissner’s membrane) is the tissue separating the cochlear duct from the scala vestibuli.
   
   
2. The stria vascularis is a stratified epithelium along the outer wall of the cochlear duct that is unique in that it is vascularized (most epithelia are avascular) by an extensive capillary network --this is probably best shown in slide 80 [example] where you can see numerous profiles of capillaries containing RBCs. Cells of the stria vascularis are responsible for the production and maintenance of endolymph.
   
   
3. The basilar membrane extends from the tip of the osseous spiral lamina of the central modiolus to the outer wall of the cochlea and separates the cochlear duct from the scala tympani. The organ of Corti rests on the basilar membrane. Notice that the width of the basilar membrane changes such that it is shorter at the base and longer toward the apex of the cochlea. What is the significance of this change in length? (EAR3)
   
   
4. The organ of Corti (W pg 420-1) consists of two kinds of hair cells and various supporting cells in a complex arrangement (NOTE: you may notice green lipid granules in some of the outer supporting cells, particularly toward the apex of the cochlea, in slide 80 --it's not a detail worth worrying about, but these support cells can change their mass and volume by altering the amount of lipid in their cytoplasm. The overall effect is a subtle change in the overall geometry of the organ of Corti and thus is a mechanism for fine tuning the sensitivity of the organ, particularly to low frequency sound.
   

The organ of Corti contains: [ORIENTATION]

1. The outer hair cells surrounded by outer phalangeal cells. There are three rows of outer hair cells. The apices of these cells and their phalangeal cells are joined together to form the reticular membrane (also called reticular lamina or apical cuticular plate) that separates endolymph in the scala media from underlying corticolymph and perilymph of the scala tympani. Lateral to the outer hair cells and phalangeal cells are other support cells, but you don't need to worry about knowing their specific types.
   
   
2. Outer and inner pillar cells outline a triangular shaped tunnel, called the inner tunnel, which is filled with perilymph-like fluid called corticolymph.
   
   
3. The inner hair cells are in a single row close to the inner pillar cells (you may see more than one inner cell nucleus because of the thickness of the section).
   
   
4. The organ of Corti is overlaid by a gelatinous tectorial membrane (produced and maintained by the columnar cells found atop the spiral limbus just medial to the organ of Corti).
   
   
5. Nerve fibers enter the organ of Corti through openings in a shelf of bone extending from the modiolus like the thread of a screw. The nerve fibers pass between supporting cells to synapse with the hair cells. Compare the innervation and function of the inner vs. outer hair cells. (EAR4

Practice questions

click here to view image
1. Which membrane-bound structure is in a semicircular canal?

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

ANSWER

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2. The structure indicated by the arrows in the left panel and shown at a higher magnification in the right panel:

1. produces endolymph.
2. detects angular acceleration.
3. detects linear acceleration.
4. detects low frequency sound.
5. detects high frequency sound.

ANSWER

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3. The cell indicated forms synaptic contacts with a:

1. sensory neuron of the vestibular (Scarpa's) ganglion
2. sensory neuron of the geniculate ganglion
3. hair cell in a crista ampullaris
4. hair cell in an otolith organ
5. hair cell in the organ of Corti

ANSWER

4.  Perilymph:

1. is extracellular fluid that fills the bony labyrinth.
2. has a high concentration of Na+ ions and a low concentration of K+ ions.
3. normally contains very little plasma proteins such as albumin.
4. is in direct contact with the oval window.
5. ALL of the above are correct.

ANSWER

Produced and supported by:
The Learning Resource Center - Office of Medical Education
Department of Pathology, Virtual Microscopy Facility
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology

© copyright 2008 The Regents Of The University Of Michigan. All rights reserved.

Questions or comments? E-mail Dr. J. Matthew Velkey (jvelkey@med.umich.edu)