Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
3,910,253,959 visitors served.
forum Join the Word of the Day Mailing List For webmasters
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

cochlea

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
cochlea /coch·lea/ (kok´le-ah)
1. anything of a spiral form.
2. a spiral tube forming part of the inner ear, which is the essential organ of hearing. coch´lear

coch·le·a (kkl-, kkl-)
n. pl. coch·le·as or coch·le·ae (-l-)
A spiral-shaped cavity in the petrous portion of the temporal bone of the inner ear, containing the nerve endings essential for hearing and forming one of the divisions of the labyrinth.

cochle·ar (-r) adj.

Cochlea
The hearing part of the inner ear. This snail-shaped structure contains fluid and thousands of microscopic hair cells tuned to various frequencies, in addition to the organ of Corti (the receptor for hearing).

cochlea
[kok′lē·ə]
Etymology: L, snail shell
the auditory portion of the inner ear. It is a spiral tunnel about 30 mm long with two full and three quarter-turns, resembling a tiny snail shell and containing the sense organ for hearing. cochlear, adj.

cochlea [kok´le-ah]
a spiral tube shaped like a snail shell, forming part of the inner ear; it is the essential organ of hearing. adj., adj coch´lear.

The cochlea is filled with fluid and is connected with the middle ear by two membrane-covered openings, the oval window (fenestra vestibuli) and the round window (fenestra cochleae). Inside it is the organ of corti, a structure of highly specialized cells that translate sound vibrations into nerve impulses. The cells of this organ have tiny hairlike strands (cilia) that protrude into the fluid of the cochlea.

Sound vibrations are relayed from the tympanic membrane (eardrum) by the bones of hearing in the middle ear to the oval window, where they set up corresponding vibrations in the fluid of the cochlea. These vibrations move the cilia of the organ of Corti, which then sends nerve impulses to the brain.

cochlea
a spiral tube forming part of the inner ear, shaped like a snail shell, which is the essential organ of hearing.
The cochlea is filled with fluid and is connected with the middle ear by two membrane-covered openings, the oval window (fenestra vestibuli) and the round window (fenestra cochleae). Inside the cochlea is the organ of Corti, a structure of highly specialized cells that translate sound vibrations into nerve impulses. The cells of this organ have tiny hairlike strands (cilia) that protrude into the fluid of the cochlea.
Sound vibrations are relayed from the tympanic membrane (eardrum) by the ear ossicles in the middle ear to the oval window of the cochlea, where they set up corresponding vibrations in the fluid of the cochlea. These vibrations move the cilia of the organ of Corti, which then sends nerve impulses to the brain. Called also osseus cochlea. See also hearing.

tibial cochlea
articular surface of the distal extremity of the tibia.


Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Feedback
Add definition
Mentioned in?  References in periodicals archive?   Medical browser?   Full browser?
 
During the attack, the woman suffered a blow to her head, scratches and reddening to her neck, a bruised left wrist, as well as the pain caused by the cochlea implant coming out.
Platinum compounds damage the stria vascularis (columnar epithelium with capillaries which secretes endolymph in the scala media) and cause outer hair cell death beginning at the basal turn of the cochlea.
Cochlear implants are surgically inserted into the cochlea in the inner ear, while electrodes are used directly in the brain.
 
 
 
Medical Dictionary
?

Terms of Use | Privacy policy | Feedback | Advertise with Us | Copyright © 2012 Farlex, Inc.
Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.