cochlea
Quick Summary
The cochlea is a spiral-shaped cavity in the inner ear that contains the organ of Corti, the sensory organ for hearing. It is part of the bony labyrinth, which also includes the vestibule and semicircular canals. Within the cochlea, the membranous labyrinth contains the cochlear duct, filled with endolymph fluid. Sound vibrations travel through the ear and cause waves in the cochlear fluid, stimulating the hair cells within the organ of Corti. These hair cells convert the mechanical vibrations into nerve impulses, which are then transmitted to the brain via the cochlear nerve, allowing us to perceive sound.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
human nervous systemVestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII or 8)5 turns) of the cochlea. Air movement against the eardrum initiates action of the ossicles of the ear, which, in turn, causes movement of fluid in the spiral cochlea. This fluid movement is converted by the organ of Corti into nerve impulses that are interpreted as auditory information. The…
Read More5 turns) of the cochlea. Air movement against the eardrum initiates action of the ossicles of the ear, which, in turn, causes movement of fluid in the spiral cochlea. This fluid movement is converted by the organ of Corti into nerve impulses that are interpreted as auditory information. The…
Read More
human nervous systemHearingIn the cochlea (the specialized auditory end organ of the inner ear), the frequency of a pure tone is reported by the location of the reacting neurons in the basilar membrane, and the loudness of the sound is reported by the rate of discharge of nerve impulses.…
Read MoreIn the cochlea (the specialized auditory end organ of the inner ear), the frequency of a pure tone is reported by the location of the reacting neurons in the basilar membrane, and the loudness of the sound is reported by the rate of discharge of nerve impulses.…
Read More
sensesMechanical senses…inner ear, which contains the cochlea. The cochlea is a complex coiled structure. It consists of a long membrane, known as the basilar membrane, which is tuned in such a way that high tones vibrate the region near the base and low tones vibrate the region near the apex. Sitting…
Read More…inner ear, which contains the cochlea. The cochlea is a complex coiled structure. It consists of a long membrane, known as the basilar membrane, which is tuned in such a way that high tones vibrate the region near the base and low tones vibrate the region near the apex. Sitting…
Read More
human earTransmission of sound waves in the cochleaThe mechanical vibrations of the stapes footplate at the oval window creates pressure waves in the perilymph of the scala vestibuli of the cochlea. These waves move around the tip of the cochlea through the helicotrema into the scala tympani and dissipate as they…
Read MoreThe mechanical vibrations of the stapes footplate at the oval window creates pressure waves in the perilymph of the scala vestibuli of the cochlea. These waves move around the tip of the cochlea through the helicotrema into the scala tympani and dissipate as they…
Read More
sound receptionSound reception in vertebrates— auditory mechanisms of fishes and amphibians…which is usually called a cochlea in the higher forms, in which it is highly detailed. The elaborate sensory structure of higher types of ears, containing hair cells and supporting elements, is called the organ of Corti.
Read More…which is usually called a cochlea in the higher forms, in which it is highly detailed. The elaborate sensory structure of higher types of ears, containing hair cells and supporting elements, is called the organ of Corti.
Read More
sound receptionCommon laboratory animalsSensory responses in the cochlea of mammals have been measured electrophysiologically by placing an electrode on the round window membrane. Unlike behavioral curves, however, the curves obtained by plotting the sound required to produce an arbitrary amount of electrical potential of the cochlea do not represent auditory thresholds. Instead,…
Read MoreSensory responses in the cochlea of mammals have been measured electrophysiologically by placing an electrode on the round window membrane. Unlike behavioral curves, however, the curves obtained by plotting the sound required to produce an arbitrary amount of electrical potential of the cochlea do not represent auditory thresholds. Instead,…
Read More
