Abstract
The residue of tectorial membrane insertion of cochlear sensory cell hairs of the guinea pig and the rat was studied by means of a scanning electron microscope. Imprints of the inner sensory cell hairs were found on the under surface of the lateral portion of Hensen's stripe. The relative position of these imprints corresponded to the location and the size of the inner hair cells. Such imprints were noted only in the 1st and 2nd half turn of the cochlea. On the other hand, imprints of the outer sensory cell hairs were observed on the under surface of the middle zone of the tectorial membrane in all cochlear turns. However, imprints corresponding to the sensory hairs of the 3rd row of the outer sensory cells near the apical end of the cochlear turn were not detectable infrequently in both animals. The mode of the attachment of the sensory cell hairs to the under surface of the tectorial membrane may possibly differ in each cochlear turn of these two animals.
