SCALA TYMPANI Meaning and
Definition
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Scala tympani is a term used in the field of anatomy and medicine to describe a specific structure found within the inner ear. The scala tympani is one of three fluid-filled spaces, or scalae, that make up the cochlea, a spiral-shaped, snail-like structure responsible for hearing.
The scala tympani is situated in the basal turn of the cochlea, located beneath the scala media and scala vestibuli. It is separated from the scala media by the basilar membrane and from the scala vestibuli by the vestibular membrane. As part of the cochlear duct, the scala tympani contains perilymph, a watery fluid that serves as a medium for sound transmission.
The primary function of the scala tympani is to transmit sound vibrations that have been conducted through the middle ear by the stapes bone, the innermost ossicle. When sound waves reach the cochlea, they cause movement of the fluid within the scala tympani, which in turn stimulates sensory hair cells located on the organ of Corti, ultimately leading to the conversion of sound waves into electrical impulses that can be perceived by the brain.
In summary, the scala tympani is a fluid-filled space within the cochlea that plays a crucial role in the transmission of auditory information from sound waves to electrical signals, facilitating the process of hearing.
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Tympanic canal, the division of the spiral canal of the cochlea lying below the lamina spiralis.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for SCALA TYMPANI
- acala tympani
- zcala tympani
- xcala tympani
- dcala tympani
- ecala tympani
- wcala tympani
- sxala tympani
- svala tympani
- sfala tympani
- sdala tympani
- sczla tympani
- scsla tympani
- scwla tympani
- scqla tympani
- scaka tympani
- scapa tympani
- scaoa tympani
- scalz tympani
- scals tympani
- scalw tympani
Etymology of SCALA TYMPANI
The term "Scala Tympani" comes from two different origins: Latin and Greek.
"Scala" is a Latin word that means "ladder" or "staircase". In the context of Scala Tympani, it refers to the structure of the cochlea, a part of the inner ear. The cochlea is spiral-shaped and resembles a staircase or ladder-like structure, with its interior divided into compartments.
"Tympani" is derived from the Greek word "tympanon", which means "drum". In this context, it refers to the basilar membrane or basilar sulcus, which is the floor of the cochlear duct in the cochlea. This membrane is important in the process of hearing, as sound vibrations are transmitted through the ear and cause the basilar membrane to move, stimulating the hair cells responsible for converting sound into electrical signals.
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