cochlea

[ kok-lee-uh, koh-klee-uh ]

noun

, Anatomy.

, plural coch·le·ae [kok, -lee-ee, -lee-ahy, koh, -klee-ee, ‑klee-ahy], coch·le·as.

1. a spiral-shaped cavity forming a division of the internal ear in humans and in most other mammals.

cochlea

/ ˈkɒklɪə /

noun

1. the spiral tube, shaped like a snail's shell, that forms part of the internal ear, converting sound vibrations into nerve impulses

cochlea

/ kŏk′lē-ə /

, Plural cochleae kŏk′lē-ē′,-lē-ī′

1. A spiral-shaped cavity of the inner ear and the main organ of hearing. The cochlea contains the nerve endings that transmit sound vibrations from the middle ear to the auditory nerve.

Derived Forms

• ˈcochlear, adjective

Other Words From

• cochle·ar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cochlea¹

1530–40; < Latin < Greek kochlíās snail (with spiral shell), screw, probably akin to kónchē conch

Word History and Origins

Origin of cochlea¹

C16: from Latin: snail, spiral, from Greek kokhlias; probably related to Greek konkhē conch

Example Sentences

It’s the type IV collagen in the basement membrane of my cochlea, or inner ear, that is abnormal and contributes to sensorineural hearing loss.

From Salon

Deep within the inner ear lie the cochlea, responsible for sound detection, and the vestibular apparatus, which oversees balance.

From Science Daily

The children received an injection in the cochlea of two harmless viruses, each carrying a portion of OTOF’s sequence.

From Science Magazine

But getting the genes to the cochlea, a spiral-shaped cavity close to the center of the skull, is challenging.

From New York Times

The teenager is profoundly deaf and was born without a cochlea, meaning he cannot use hearing aids or cochlear implants and does not use speech.

From BBC