Meaning & use
endolymph
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountabletechnicalmedicalbiology
The fluid inside the membranous canals of the inner ear, which helps the ear sense sound and balance.
Grammar: No plural and no 'a': the endolymph moves.
Patterns
- endolymph in the cochlea
- endolymph of the inner ear
Movement of the endolymph tells the brain which way your head is turning.
Too much endolymph can cause dizziness and hearing loss.
Sound waves create tiny ripples in the endolymph of the cochlea.
Common combinations
- endolymph fluid
- Endolymph fluid fills the canals of the inner ear.
- endolymphatic sac
- The endolymphatic sac helps regulate pressure in the ear.
- endolymph and perilymph
- Endolymph and perilymph have different mixtures of salts.
- endolymph flow
- Endolymph flow in the semicircular canals signals rotation.
- endolymph pressure
- High endolymph pressure is linked to Ménière's disease.
Synonyms and how they differ
- inner-ear fluid
- Inner-ear fluid is a plain description that could also include perilymph, while endolymph names one exact fluid.
Word family
- endolymphatic adjective
- relating to endolymph
- perilymph noun
- the other fluid of the inner ear, surrounding the endolymph
- lymph noun
- a clear body fluid that helps fight infection
Commonly confused: endolymph or perilymph? endolymph or lymph?
endolymph vs perilymph
Perilymph surrounds the membranous canals and is low in potassium; endolymph is inside the canals and rich in potassium.
endolymph vs lymph
Lymph is the fluid of the lymphatic system through the body, not the fluid of the inner ear.
Practice
Which fluid fills the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear and helps with balance?
Choose one answer.
Endolymph is found inside the membranous canals. Perilymph is tempting but lies outside them, and bile belongs to digestion.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “endolymph”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.