FIGURE 3.

High-magnification surface views of our excised cochlea preparation. All views are from the same cochlea location and were acquired by focusing the objective at different depths of the OC. (A) Tectorial membrane (TM) level. Arrows point to the TM radial fibers and the edge of the TM (TM_edge). (B) Cuticular plate level. Arrows point to the IHC (IHC_s) and OHC1 (OHC1_s) hair bundles. (C) OHC-basal-end level. Arrows point to the outer pillar cells (OPC), first through third rows of OHCs (OHC1, OHC2, and OHC3, respectively), and Hensen's cells (HC). (D) Basilar membrane level. Arrows point to the arcuate zone of the BM (BM_AZ), the radial fibers of the pectinate zone of the BM (BM_PZ), and the edge of the HC (HC_edge).