ON THE DEITERS CELL CONTRIBUTION TO THE MICROMECHANICS OF THE ORGAN OF CORTI

We give the first estimate of Young's modulus of the proteinaceous bea m that makes the stiffness of the Deiters cell phalangeal processes. W e show that the fundamental mode of vibration of an isolated phalanx i s overdamped due to the damping imposed by the surrounding fluid. Then we consider the mechanical couplings that have so far been neglected in the micromechanics of the organ of Corti, Conclusions are drawn con cerning the lack of significance of some expected resonant behaviour o f isolated outer hair cells.