The surface structures of the human vestibular apparatus.

The surface of the human vestibular apparatus has been examined in the scanning electron microscope following early post mortem fixation. Preservation of the fine structures of the maculae is good but of the cristae of the semi-circular canals is only fair. The surface features of the maculae do not differ from those seen in experimental animals. There appears to be an age related loss of ciliated sensory cells from the cristae. This might explain some of the age related changes in vestibular function.