[Assessment of the anisotropic stiffness component of the basilar membrane]

The average through the section components Dy and Dx of the basilar membrane anisotropic stiffness are evaluated from Bekesy's hydrostatic and hair probe experiments. A contradiction is found between the values and the behaviour of Dy component, calculated from the hydrostatic experiment and from the hair probe. The solution of the strongly bent plate equation for the average through the section transversal component of the basilar membrane anisotropic stiffness is obtained by the asymptotic method. A significant divergence between effective and bending stiffness can exist if the thickness of the human basilar membrane is about twice of that of the guinea pig.