Cochlear duct
Cochlear Duct
The Cochlear Duct (pronounced: koh-klee-er duhkt) is a crucial component of the inner ear that plays a significant role in the process of hearing.
Etymology
The term "Cochlear Duct" is derived from the Latin word "cochlea", meaning "snail", due to its spiral, snail-like shape, and the English word "duct", referring to a tube, channel, or passage.
Definition
The Cochlear Duct, also known as the scala media, is a fluid-filled cavity located within the cochlea. It separates the scala vestibuli and the scala tympani, two other chambers in the cochlea. The Cochlear Duct is filled with a fluid called endolymph, which is crucial for transmitting sound vibrations to the auditory nerve fibers.
Function
The primary function of the Cochlear Duct is to transmit sound vibrations from the basilar membrane to the organ of Corti, the sensory organ of hearing. The organ of Corti then converts these vibrations into electrical signals that are sent to the brain via the auditory nerve.
Related Terms
- Inner Ear: The innermost part of the ear that contains the cochlea, vestibule, and semicircular canals.
- Cochlea: A spiral-shaped, fluid-filled inner ear structure; it is the main organ of hearing.
- Scala Vestibuli: The upper bony passage of the cochlea.
- Scala Tympani: The lower bony passage of the cochlea.
- Endolymph: The fluid that fills the cochlear duct.
- Basilar Membrane: A membrane in the cochlea that vibrates in response to sound.
- Organ of Corti: The sensory organ of hearing located within the cochlear duct.
- Auditory Nerve: The nerve that transmits auditory information from the cochlea to the brain.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cochlear duct
- Wikipedia's article - Cochlear duct
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski