Elemental analysis of the early postnatal tectorial membrane.

The analytical electron microscope has revealed that the elemental composition of the early postnatal tectorial membrane is principally the same before and after the development of endolymph. The elemental composition of the tectorial membrane does not give absolute information on the permeability of the membrane to ions such as potassium and chlorine from the endolymphatic space. Such a permeability is, however, likely when comparing the relative peak intensities of chlorine and potassium before and after the development of endolymph.