Basilar Membrane (Noun)
Meaning
A membrane in the cochlea that supports the organ of Corti.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The organ of Corti rests upon the basilar membrane, a crucial component in sound processing within the cochlea.
- The vibration pattern of the basilar membrane correlates with different frequencies of sound, enabling our brains to interpret the sounds we hear.
- The narrow basilar membrane near the base of the cochlea reacts most strongly to high-frequency sounds, while its wider portions near the apex respond to low-frequency sounds.
- Sounds cause the basilar membrane to vibrate in a specific pattern, which in turn stimulates the hair cells of the organ of Corti.
- In the inner ear, the basilar membrane plays an essential role in converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that the auditory nerve can transmit to the brain.