biostudies-literatureArriaga MHenry Luce FoundationNCRR NIH HHSBurroughs Wellcome FundNIDCD NIH HHSNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersNational Cancer InstituteNCI NIH HHSNational Institutes of HealthDavid and Lucile Packard Foundation343-362https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8627469biostudies-literatureUnknown136The round window membrane (RWM) covers an opening between the perilymph fluid-filled inner ear space and the air-filled middle ear space. As the only non-osseous barrier between these two spaces, the RWM is an ideal candidate for aspiration of perilymph for diagnostics purposes and delivery of medication for treatment of inner ear disorders. Routine access across the RWM requires the development of new surgical tools whose design can only be optimized with a thorough understanding of the RWM's structure and properties. The RWM possesses a layer of collagen and elastic fibers so characterization of the distribution and orientation of these fibers is essential. Confocal and two-photon microscopy were conducted on intact RWMs in a guinea pig model to characterize the distribution of collagen Acta biomaterialiaMembrane curvature and connective fiber alignment in guinea pig round window membrane.PMC8627469R01DC014547R01 DC01454710 RR02568630 CA013696S10 RR025686P30 CA013696Arriaga MYu MKasza KEKysar JWFafalis DLalwani AKArteaga DNWang XfalseMembrane curvature and connective fiber alignment in guinea pig round window membrane.The round window membrane (RWM) covers an opening between the perilymph fluid-filled inner ear space and the air-filled middle ear space. As the only non-osseous barrier between these two spaces, the RWM is an ideal candidate for aspiration of perilymph for diagnostics purposes and delivery of medication for treatment of inner ear disorders. Routine access across the RWM requires the development of new surgical tools whose design can only be optimized with a thorough understanding of the RWM's structure and properties. The RWM possesses a layer of collagen and elastic fibers so characterization of the distribution and orientation of these fibers is essential. Confocal and two-photon microscopy were conducted on intact RWMs in a guinea pig model to characterize the distribution of collagen 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Dec2025-04-05T10:17:15.34Z2025-04-05T10:17:15.34ZS-EPMC86274693456372510.1016/j.actbio.2021.09.036