tectorial

Definitions

Covering, as if roofing over; forming a structure like a roof over something; roofing; tegminal: as, the tectorial membrane of the ear (which see, under membrane).

adjective (Anat.) Of or pertaining to covering; -- applied to a membrane immediately over the organ of Corti in the internal ear.

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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The free ends of the outer hair cells occupy a series of apertures in a net-like membrane, the reticular membrane, and the entire organ is covered by the tectorial membrane.

X. The Organs of the Senses and the Common Integument. 1d. 4. The Internal Ear or Labyrinth 1918
Covering the sulcus spiralis internus and the spiral organ of Corti is the tectorial membrane, which is attached to the limbus laminæ spiralis close to the inner edge of the vestibular membrane.

X. The Organs of the Senses and the Common Integument. 1d. 4. The Internal Ear or Labyrinth 1918
Hardesty151 considers the tectorial membrane as the vibrating mechanism in the cochlea.

X. The Organs of the Senses and the Common Integument. 1d. 4. The Internal Ear or Labyrinth 1918
PC, pillar cells; SM, scala media; ST, scala tympani; SV, scala vestibuli; TM, tectorial membrane.

PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Hortensia Sanchez-Calderon et al. 2010
From postnatal day P5 cochlear development is severely impaired in mutant Igf1 −/− mice, which develop a smaller cochlea with an immature tectorial membrane.

PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Hortensia Sanchez-Calderon et al. 2010
Such sensitivity and precision, seen also among other mammals, derives from a complex interaction of cochlear hair cells and the tectorial membrane (TM) within the organ of Corti.

PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Jacob S. Minor et al. 2009