What are the main parts of the cochlea?

What are the main parts of the cochlea?

Parts of the Cochlea​ The cochlea is made up of three compartments (scala tympani, scala media, scala vestibuli) that are separated from each other by two membranes (basilar membrane and Reissner’s membrane).

What type of cells are in the cochlea?

The cochlear hair cells in humans consist of one row of inner hair cells and three rows of outer hair cells (see Figure 13.4). The inner hair cells are the actual sensory receptors, and 95% of the fibers of the auditory nerve that project to the brain arise from this subpopulation.

What is the cochlear duct filled with?

endolymph
The cochlear duct is a cavity filled with endolymph and is a component of the membranous labyrinth of the ear 4. It is held in position by the lamina of the modiolus 1. The cochlear duct starts at the saccule and ends blindly at the apex of the cochlea.

What is inside your ear?

The inner ear includes the cochlea (say: KOH-klee-uh) and the semicircular canals. The snail-shaped cochlea changes the vibrations from the middle ear into nerve signals. These signals travel to the brain along the cochlear nerve, also known as the auditory nerve.

What part of the body is the cochlea?

The cochlea, the hearing organ, is located inside the inner ear. The snail-like cochlea is made up of three fluid-filled chambers that spiral around a bony core, which contains a central channel called the cochlear duct.

Does cochlear duct contain Perilymph?

The cochlear canals contain two types of fluid: perilymph and endolymph. Endolymph, found inside the cochlear duct (scala media), has a unique composition not found elsewhere in the body. …

What cells are in your ears?

Sensory epithelia of the inner ear contain two major cell types: hair cells and supporting cells. It has been clear for a long time that hair cells play critical roles in mechanoreception and synaptic transmission.

What is inner ear fluid made of?

The endolymphatic sac (ES) is a membranous structure in the inner ear located partly in the temporal bone and partly within the dura of the posterior fossa. It contains endolymph, which is similar in chemical makeup to intracellular fluid (high in K, low in Na).

Why is the cochlea filled with fluid?

The cochlea has a dual use, it also is a balance organ. Plus the fluid in the cochlea is a necessity for moving the hair cells and triggering the electrical impulse necessary for hearing. Air alone, especially trapped in a pocket such a the Corti organ, would not be able to achieve this.

Can you touch your eardrum?

So if you tap on the eardrum, you’re sending shock waves into the inner ear and you can cause problems with your hearing and balance. What’s a worst-case scenario? If you put a Q-tip into your ear you could puncture your eardrum and that may require surgery to fix it.

Where is the cochlea in the ear?

the inner ear
While the cochlea is technically a bone it plays a vital role in the function of hearing rather than simply being another component of the skeletal system. It is located within the inner ear and is often described as hollow and snail- or spiral-shaped.

Is the cochlea part of the inner ear?

The cochlea is a small snail-shaped bone structure in the inner ear. There are several components of the structure and these, combined with the cochlea itself, make up the half of the inner ear structure that controls hearing. The other half of the inner ear labyrinth is the vestibular system, which controls balance.

What are the walls of the hollow cochlea made of?

The walls of the hollow cochlea are made of bone, with a thin, delicate lining of epithelial tissue. This coiled tube is divided through most of its length by an inner membranous partition. Two fluid-filled outer spaces (ducts or scalae) are formed by this dividing membrane.

What kind of fluid is in the cochlea?

Most of the cochlea is either encased in, or transports, one of two special bodily fluids called perilymph and endolymph. Perilymph is the liquid inside the ear that travels to the organ of Conti, carrying sound with it. This liquid is similar in chemical composition to spinal fluid.

What kind of wires are in a cochlear implant?

It is a long, soft, and flexible line of silicone which contains up to 24 ultra-thin wires made out of platinum and iridium. One end is connected to the cochlear implant’s electronics. The other end has contacts that sit right next to the delicate hair cells in the cochlea.