THE OEGAN OF CORTI. 



657 



The ligamentum spirals (fig. 469, LSp) appears in sections as a 

 pointed projection from the outer wall of the cochlea, with the basilar 

 membrane attached to ' 



its apex. It is composed Fig. 471. 



of a retiform connective 

 tissue, many of the cells 

 of which have an elon- 

 gated shape and radiate 

 iProm the point of attach- 

 ment of the basilar mem- 

 brane. They have been 

 considered by some to be 

 muscular, but there is 

 no distinct proof of their 

 contractile nature. 



Organ of Corti. — 

 The epithelium which 

 covers the basilar mem- 

 brane requires a careful description, including as it does the highly- 

 specialised structures which are known by the name of the organ of 



Fig. 473. 



ig. 471. — A PAIR c 

 Rabbit's Cochlea, 



NIFIED. 



Rods of Coeti, fkom the 

 ^ SIDE VIEW. Highly jiag- 



5, h, basilar membrane; i.r, inner rod; e.r, outer 

 rod. The nucleated protoplasmic masses at the feet 

 are also shown. 



Fig. 472.— Sketch of Lamina Reticularis and A»joining Structures from the 



Cat. Highly magnified (Kolliker). 



a, inner hair-cells with hairlets, ^ ; 7, epithelium of spiral gi-oove ; c, d inner rods 



the junction between_ the individual heads at d not being represented ; /, heads of 



s:;riier ;;itS ^li r"^"'"^^ ^"' '""'''^ -' ^^^^^^*^ ^ ^' -*^-'- *-- 



Fig. 473.— Similar Figure from the Calf (Kolliker). 

 a, I, c, inner rods ; d, their heads ; c, two outer rods ; i, i, feet of ditto • h iDhalantreil 

 process^lvom head ot outer rod ; //', phalanges of 1. reticularis ; the oth^r k£s ast 



VOL. n. ^ ^ 



