Endolymph is the fluid inside the membranous labyrinth. Unusually for an extracellular fluid, it is rich in potassium and low in sodium, resembling fluid inside cells. In the cochlea it is held at a positive voltage of about plus 80 mV relative to surrounding tissue.
| Location | Within the membranous labyrinth (cochlear duct, utricle, saccule, semicircular ducts, endolymphatic duct and sac) |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | None |
| Blood Supply | Produced from blood supplied by the labyrinthine artery to the stria vascularis |
Bathes the tops of the hair cells and supplies the ionic and electrical drive for converting sound and motion into nerve signals.
The high potassium and positive voltage create a large driving force for current through hair cells, making them very sensitive. Endolymph is produced mainly by the stria vascularis and vestibular dark cells and absorbed partly by the endolymphatic sac. Too much endolymph (hydrops) is linked to Meniere disease.
Excess endolymph distends the membranous labyrinth, causing episodic vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus and fullness.
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