Anatomical and physiological studies on the growth of the inner ear of the albino rat 4 (1923)

Final Summary

This study is concerned with the age changes in the organ of Corti and the associated structures. The changes in the largest nerve cells which constitute the spiral ganglion and the vestibular ganglion, respectively, have also been followed from birth to maturity. On pages 116 to 124 are given the summary and discussion of the observations on the growth of the tympanic wall of the ductus cochlearis.

The conclusions reached from the study of the largest nerve cells in the ganglion spirale appear on pages 143 to 145. On pages 155 and 156 are presented the results of the study on the correlation between the response to sound and to the conditions of the cochlea.

Finally, the observations on the growth of the largest cells in the ganglion vestibu'are are summarized on pages 168 and 169.

It is not necessary to again state in detail the conclusions reached in the various parts of this study.

At the same time, if we endeavor to obtain a very general picture of the events and changes thus described, this may be sketched as follows:

170 ANATOMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON

Within the membranous cochlea there occurs a wave of growth passing from the axis to the periphery as shown in figures 4 to 13. The crest or highest point of the tissue mass appears at birth near the axis, in the greater epithelial ridge, and then progressively shifts toward the periphery, so that at maturity it is in the region of the Hensen cells. With advancing age the hair cells come to lie more and more under the tectorial membrane and the pillar cells seem to shift toward the axis.

At from 9 to 12 days the tunnel of Corti appears and the rat can hear.

All of these changes occur first in the basal turn and progress toward the apex. The mature relations are established at about twenty days. There are thus two waves of change in the membranous cochlea, from the axis to the periphery and the other from the base to the apex. The rat can usually hear at twelve days of age or about three days before the eyes open.

The largest cells in the ganglion spirale are very immature at birth, reach their maximum at twenty days, and after that diminish in size, slightly but steadily. The rat hears, therefore, before these cells have reached their full size.

The largest cells in the vestibular ganglion are precocious and remarkably developed, even at birth. They cease their rapid growth at about fifteen days of age, but increase very slightly though steadily throughout life.