[Pressure measurements of the round window membrane in the guinea pig cochlea].

Some clinical observations suggest that sudden hearing loss or dizziness can be due to rupture of the round window membrane. Experiments on 16 guinea pigs showed that after injection of fluid the pressure in the scala tympani of the basal turn increases. This leads to rupture of the round window membrane. The pressure was recorded via a piezoresistant transducer. Morphological changes were visualised by scanning electron microscopy.