COCHLEA Meaning and
Definition
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The cochlea is a spiral-shaped, snail-like structure located in the inner ear. It is responsible for the conversion of sound vibrations into nerve impulses that can be interpreted by the brain as sound.
Within the cochlea, there are three fluid-filled chambers that are separated by two membranes. The inner chamber, known as the scala media or cochlear duct, contains the organ of Corti, which is the sensory organ responsible for the detection of sound. The organ of Corti consists of thousands of hair cells that have tiny hair-like projections called stereocilia.
When sound waves enter the ear, they cause the fluid within the cochlea to vibrate. These vibrations are transmitted to the hair cells, which in turn stimulate the auditory nerve fibers. The auditory nerve then carries these signals to the brain, where they are processed and interpreted as sound.
The cochlea is a crucial component of the auditory system and plays a crucial role in the sense of hearing. It is responsible for the crucial task of transforming sound waves into electrical signals that the brain can interpret. Any damage or dysfunction of the cochlea can result in hearing loss or impairment. Cochlear implants are devices that can be surgically implanted to bypass damaged or non-functioning cochlear hair cells, allowing individuals with severe hearing loss to perceive sound.
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A cone-shaped cavity in the petrous portion of the temporal bone, forming one of the divisions of the labyrinth or internal ear; it consists of a spiral canal making two and a half turns around a central core of spongy bone, the modiolus; this spiral canal of the cochlea contains the membranous cochlea or ductus cochlearis in which is the organ of Corti, one of the terminal auditory apparatuses.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for COCHLEA
Etymology of COCHLEA
The word "cochlea" comes from Latin, where it originally referred to the spiral-shaped cavity found in the inner ear. In Latin, "cochlea" means "snail shell", which is derived from the Greek word "kokhlias" (κοχλίας) with the same meaning. This term was chosen due to the resemblance between the spiral structure of the snail shell and the shape of the cochlea in the inner ear.
Similar spelling words for COCHLEA
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