Wever E G
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1973 Feb;70(2):498-502. doi: 10.1073/pnas.70.2.498.
A study of the macula and crista organs of the frog's labyrinth with the use of an improved method of histological preparation has shown these endings to be more complex than heretofore believed. The structure lying over the layer of sensory and supporting cells is not a single "gelatinous" body as commonly described, but consists of two distinct layers with separate functions. In all these endings-macula sacculi, macula utriculi, macula lagenae, and the cristae of the three semicircular canals-there is a special tectorial structure that lies over the cellular surface and makes the connections to the ciliary tufts of the hair cells. It has the general form of a reticulum, though in the saccule it is somewhat elaborated.A preliminary study of other vertebrates indicates that this tectorial reticulum is present in all the labyrinthine endings throughout the series from fishes to mammals. Consideration is given to the possible advantages of this special tectorial structure in the stimulation process.
运用改良的组织学制备方法对青蛙迷路的黄斑和嵴器官进行的一项研究表明，这些末梢比以往认为的更为复杂。位于感觉细胞和支持细胞层之上的结构并非如通常所描述的单个“胶状”体，而是由具有不同功能的两层 distinct 层组成。在所有这些末梢——球囊斑、椭圆囊斑、瓶状囊斑以及三个半规管的嵴——中，有一种特殊的盖膜结构位于细胞表面，并与毛细胞的纤毛束相连。它总体呈网状形式，尽管在球囊中它 somewhat elaborated。对其他脊椎动物的初步研究表明，这种盖膜网状结构在从鱼类到哺乳动物的整个系列的所有迷路末梢中都存在。文中考虑了这种特殊盖膜结构在刺激过程中可能具有的优势。
