basilar membrane

American  

noun

Anatomy.

1. a supporting membrane, especially the membrane that supports the organ of Corti in the ear and aids in translating sound vibrations into electrical signals.

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Etymology

Origin of basilar membrane

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

When the sound waves in the cochlear fluid contact the basilar membrane, it flexes back and forth in a wave-like fashion.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Once in the cochlea, the energy causes the basilar membrane to flex, thereby bending the stereocilia on receptor hair cells.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The basilar membrane vibrates in different regions, according to the frequency of the sound waves impinging on it.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The organ of Corti, containing the mechanoreceptor hair cells, is adjacent to the scala tympani, where it sits atop the basilar membrane.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Periopticon: a complex nerve structure back of the basilar membrane of the eye.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.