Mechanical properties of membranous labyrinths measured with a microtension tester

Mechanical properties of the semicircular canals of guinea pigs, frogs and water fishes, and of human membranous labyrinths were tested. Tensile strength of the semicircular canals of guinea pig, frog and water fish was greater in the order of guinea pig, frog and fish. In the human membranous labyrinth, the saccular membrane was the weakest, followed by Reissner's membrane, the utricular membrane and the semicircular canal. These values were converted from tensile strength to breakage pressure. The breakage pressure of the saccular membrane was 64.0 mmHg.