tragus

3.69  tragus.  A small pointed eminence of the external ear in front of the concha and projecting backward over the meatus; contributes to front-rear direction...

tensor tympani

3.68  tensor tympani. Middle-ear muscle attached to the handle of the malleus. Its reflex contraction, in response to tactile stimulation to parts of the face, draws the auditory ossicles inward, which increases the tension on the tympanic...

tectorial membrane

3.67  tectorial membrane. Gelatinous, ribbonlike structure attached along one edge to the spiral limbus and along the other edge to the outer border of the organ of Corti. The tectorial membrane is in contact with, or closely approximates, the stereovilli of...

supporting cells

3.66  supporting cells. Cells extending from the basilar membrane which support the organ of Corti. The free ends of these cells form the reticular lamina. Supporting cells consist of the (a) inner rods of Corti, (b) outer rods of Corti, (c) inner phalangeal...

summating potentials

3.65  summating potentials. Positive and negative changes in the direct current polarization of the cochlea in response to a sound stimulus. Unit, volt...