: a membrane extending from the bony shelf of the cochlea to the outer wall and supporting the organ of Corti
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebWhen implanting cochlear implants, Polley explained, surgeons thread electrodes into specific locations along the basilar membrane to target nerves that are sensitive to particular frequencies. Justin Chen, STAT, 11 July 2018 Within the cochlea, hair cells rest on an organic platform known as the basilar membrane that is floppy and wide on one end and narrow and taut on the other. Justin Chen, STAT, 11 July 2018
Word History
First Known Use
1842, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
basilar membrane
noun
: a membrane that extends from the margin of the bony shelf of the cochlea to the outer wall and that supports the organ of Corti