Pressure on the Cochlea as a Load on the basilar membrane: Its contribution to the mechanism of hearing

Abstract

A Mathematical model of the pressure equation was obtained and solved to show the effect of pressure as a load on the basilar membrane deformation (motion) and that the basilar membrane motion is in opposite direction to pressure (load) application on it. This means that when pressure is exerted on the basilar membrane, it pushes it down and vice versa. This movement of the basilar membrane also results in the movement of the Oval and Round windows which also move in opposite direction relative to the one another as well as to the load exerted on the basilar membrane. As expected, it was seen that the pressure difference at any point inside the cochlea and thus the basilar membrane is a function of the location of interest since x1 and x3 are implicated in the expression for the pressure difference.

JONAMP Vol. 11 2007: pp. 557-570