Thickness of the gerbil tympanic membrane measured with confocal microscopy

Abstract

Thickness data for the gerbil tympanic membrane, an extremely thin biological membrane, are presented. Thickness measurements were performed on fresh material using fluorescence images taken perpendicular through the membrane with a commercial confocal microscope. Thickness varies strongly across the membrane. Similar thickness distributions in all samples (pars tensa n = 11; pars flaccida n = 3) were observed. The pars tensa has a rather constant thickness of about 7 microm in the central region curving as a horse shoe upwards around the manubrium. In the most superior parts of the pars tensa thickness becomes gradually twice as large. Thickness increases also steeply from the central region towards the edges (about 35 microm near the annulus and 20 microm near the manubrium). A pronounced, local thickening of about 30 microm is present close to the edge and extends as a ring along the entire annular periphery of the pars tensa. Overall, the pars flaccida is thicker than the pars tensa and has a rugged surface. Its central region has a mean thickness of about 24 microm with a mean variation of about 4 microm. The average thickness in the inferior region is slightly larger than in the superior region. The pars flaccida thickens steeply, up to about 80 microm, near the edges.