The stria vascularis is a band of specialised, richly vascular epithelium on the outer wall of the cochlear duct. It secretes potassium into the endolymph and creates the positive endocochlear potential of about plus 80 mV. It is one of the few epithelia in the body that contains capillaries within it.
| Location | Outer (lateral) wall of the cochlear duct, on the spiral ligament |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | None of note |
| Blood Supply | Radiating arterioles from the spiral modiolar artery |
Produces endolymph and generates the endocochlear potential that powers hair cell signalling.
The endocochlear potential acts like a battery that drives current through hair cells. Degeneration of the stria with age causes a flat, all-frequency hearing loss known as strial presbycusis. Loop diuretics can temporarily reduce strial function, and certain genetic conditions affecting potassium transport cause deafness.
Age-related atrophy of the stria vascularis reducing the endocochlear potential, producing a flat hearing loss across frequencies.
Drugs such as furosemide in high doses can disrupt strial ion transport and cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.
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