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Glite Dictionary
membranous labyrinth

membranous labyrinth

9.9
A soft set of tubes and small sacs inside the inner ear that help hearing and balance
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛmbrənəs ˈlæbəˌrɪnθ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : laberinto membranoso
  • The membranous labyrinth is essential for maintaining balance and hearing in humans.

Examples

  • Damage to the membranous labyrinth can result in vertigo and loss of hearing.

  • During the dissection, the scientist carefully exposed the membranous labyrinth inside the temporal bone.

  • The membranous labyrinth is crucial for hearing.

  • I learned about the membranous labyrinth in biology class.

  • Damage to the membranous labyrinth can result in vertigo and loss of hearing.

  • During the dissection, the scientist carefully exposed the membranous labyrinth inside the temporal bone.

  • The membranous labyrinth is essential for maintaining balance and hearing in humans.

Surface Forms

membranous labyrinth singular
membranous labyrinths plural

Morphology

membranous + labyrinth

The phrase is a straightforward adjectival composition: 'membranous' (having a membrane) modifies 'labyrinth' (the inner-ear anatomical structure), so the meaning — the part of the labyrinth that is membrane-bound — is directly derivable from the constituents. Although it is specialized medical terminology, its meaning is compositional and would be understandable to a learner who knows both words.

Etymology

The noun membranous labyrinth names the soft, maze-like system of thin tubes and sacs inside the inner ear. The words membranous (thin membrane) and labyrinth (maze) create a picture you can remember, and that is why the term refers to the ear parts for 'hearing' and 'balance'.