Perilymph
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Perilymph is an extracellular fluid located within the cochlea (part of the ear) in 2 of its 3 compartments; the scala typmani and scala vestibuli. The ionic composition of perilymph is comparable to that of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. The major cation of perilymph is sodium.
The third compartment of the ear, the cochlear duct contains endolymph. Perilymph and endolymph have unique ionic compositions suited to their functions in regulating electrochemical impulses of hair cells. The Electric potential of endolymph is ~80-90 mV more positive than perilymph (1).
It has also been suggested that perilymph and endolymph participate in a unidirectional flow that is interrupted in Meniere's disease.
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[edit] References
1. Konishi, T et al., 1978, Ion Transport in guinea pig cochlea. I. Potassium and Sodium Transport. Acta Otolaryngol. 86, 22-34