Vibration of the organ of Corti

Vibration of the organ of Corti in response to an electric field applied across the whole organ.The tectorial membrane has been removed, and the basilar membrane is mechanically clamped. The motion is induced by the electromotile action of the outer hair cells. The E-vector designates the phase of the electric field. The animation was constructed from data at 8 positions on the organ of Corti. Data are from the third cochlear turn, with stimulus frequency of 936 Hz corresponding to the characteristic frequency (CF) of that cochlear location. Anatomy and vibrations (red) are scaled differently. Notice the counter-phasic motion between outer hair cells on the one hand and inner hair cells and Hensen’s cells on the other. In other words, the upper surface of the organ of Corti does not move as a stiff plate.
© 2005 A. W. Gummer. Animation by Dr. M.P. Scherer.