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The cochlea is a portion of the inner ear that looks like a snail shell (cochlea is Greek for snail). [5] The cochlea receives sound in the form of vibrations, which cause the stereocilia to move. The stereocilia then convert these vibrations into nerve impulses which are taken up to the brain to be interpreted.
The cochlea propagates these mechanical signals as waves in the fluid and membranes and then converts them to nerve impulses which are transmitted to the brain. [ 4 ] The vestibular system is the region of the inner ear where the semicircular canals converge, close to the cochlea.
The cochlear duct (a.k.a. the scala media) is an endolymph filled cavity inside the cochlea, located between the tympanic duct and the vestibular duct, separated by the basilar membrane and the vestibular membrane (Reissner's membrane) respectively. The cochlear duct houses the organ of Corti. [1]
The cochlear nucleus is the first 'relay station' of the central auditory system and receives mainly ipsilateral afferent input. The three major components of the cochlear nuclear complex are (see figure below): the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) the anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) the posteroventral cochlear nucleus (PVCN)
The vestibule is the central part of the bony labyrinth in the inner ear, and is situated medial to the eardrum, behind the cochlea, and in front of the three semicircular canals. [ 1 ] The name comes from the Latin vestibulum , literally an entrance hall.
The endolymph is situated in two vestibules, the utricle and saccule, and eventually transmits to the cochlea, a spiral-shaped structure. The cochlea consists of three fluid-filled spaces: the vestibular duct, the cochlear duct, and the tympanic duct. [3]
The modiolus is a conical shaped central axis in the cochlea. The modiolus consists of spongy bone and the cochlea turns approximately 2.75 times around the central axis in humans. [1] The cochlear nerve, as well as spiral ganglion is situated inside it. The cochlear nerve conducts impulses from the receptors located within the cochlea.
[5] [6] The human cochlea contains on the order of 3,500 inner hair cells and 12,000 outer hair cells at birth. [7] The outer hair cells mechanically amplify low-level sound that enters the cochlea. [8] [9] The amplification may be powered by the movement of their hair bundles, or by an electrically driven motility of their cell bodies.