basilar membrane

noun

: a membrane extending from the bony shelf of the cochlea to the outer wall and supporting the organ of Corti

Examples of basilar membrane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When 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

Time Traveler
The first known use of basilar membrane was in 1842

Dictionary Entries Near basilar membrane

Cite this Entry

“Basilar membrane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basilar%20membrane. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on basilar membrane

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!