Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government
Español
Government Funding Lapse
Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted.

The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov.

Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov.

endolymphatic sac

(EN-doh-lim-FA-tik sak)
A balloon-shaped structure filled with fluid in the inner ear. The fluid in the endolymphatic sac surrounds and protects the structures in the inner ear that affect hearing and balance. When pressure in the inner ear builds, the endolymphatic sac releases fluid to relieve the pressure. The endolymphatic sac also removes extra fluid and waste products from the inner ear and is involved in the inner ear’s immune response to foreign substances.
Search NCI's Dictionary of Cancer Terms