Basilar Membrane

The basilar membrane stops just short of the end of the cochlea to allow the fluid to transmit pressure waves around the end of the membrane.

When the stapes vibrates against the oval window, pressure waves are transmitted rapidly down the scala vestibuli, introducing ripples in the basilar membrane.

• higher frequencies create higher amplitude ripples in the region near the oval window (where the basilar membrane is narrow and stiff).
• lower frequencies create higher amplitude ripples in the region at the far end (where the membrane is slack).