Scanning electron microscopy of the human cochlea - the stria vascularis.

The endolymphatic surface of the stria vascularis from normally hearing human ears has been studied with the scanning electron microscope. The cells in contact with the endolymph usually have a hexagonal-shaped surface and possess many microvilli, whilst depressions or pits are rarely seen. There is marked heterogeneity of these cells with variations in the size of the cells and the number of microvilli present on each cell. A transitional zone occurs between the stria vascularis and the spiral prominence. The surface of the cells of the transitional zone are larger and elongated whilst the cells of the spiral prominence have a smaller and more regular appearance.