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cochlea
cochlea Part of the inner ear of mammals, birds, and some reptiles that transforms sound waves into nerve impulses. In mammals it is coiled, resembling a snail shell, and is divided by membranes into three parallel canals (see illustration): the middle cochlear duct (scala media) and two outer canals – the vestibular canal (scala vestibuli) and the tympanic canal (scala tympani) – formed from one long canal folded on itself at a bend at the apex of the cochlea. The small opening at this point, where the vestibular and tympanic canals communicate, is called the helicotrema. The cochlear duct is filled with a fluid (see endolymph) and contains the organ of Corti, which houses the sound receptors. The other two canals also contain a fluid (see perilymph). Sound-induced vibrations of the oval window are transmitted through the perilymph and endolymph and stimulate hair cells in the organ of Corti. These in turn stimulate nerve cells that transmit information, via the auditory nerve, to the brain for interpretation of the sounds.
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"cochlea." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cochlea." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-cochlea.html "cochlea." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-cochlea.html |
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cochlea
coch·le·a / ˈkōklēə; ˈkäk-/ • n. (pl. -le·ae / -lēˌē; -lēˌī/ ) the spiral cavity of the inner ear containing the organ of Corti, which produces nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations. DERIVATIVES: coch·le·ar adj. ORIGIN: mid 16th cent. (used to denote spiral objects such as a spiral staircase and an Archimedean screw): from Latin, ‘snail shell or screw,’ from Greek kokhlias. The current sense dates from the late 17th cent. |
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"cochlea." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cochlea." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-cochlea.html "cochlea." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-cochlea.html |
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cochlea
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"cochlea." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cochlea." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-cochlea.html "cochlea." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-cochlea.html |
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cochlea
cochlea Part of the inner ear of some reptiles, birds, and mammals. It is concerned with the analysis of the pitch of received sound. In mammals other than Monotremata it is spirally coiled.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "cochlea." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "cochlea." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-cochlea.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "cochlea." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-cochlea.html |
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cochlea
cochlea (kok-liă) n. the spiral organ of the labyrinth of the ear, which is concerned with the reception and analysis of sound.
—cochlear (kok-li-er) adj. |
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"cochlea." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cochlea." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-cochlea.html "cochlea." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-cochlea.html |
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cochlea
cochlea spiral cavity of the internal ear. XVII. — L. coc(h)lea snail-shell, screw — Gr. kokhlías, prob. rel. to kógkhē CONCH.
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T. F. HOAD. "cochlea." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "cochlea." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cochlea.html T. F. HOAD. "cochlea." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cochlea.html |
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cochlea
cochlea : see ear . |
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"cochlea." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cochlea." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-cochlea.html "cochlea." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-cochlea.html |
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cochlea
cochlea
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"cochlea." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cochlea." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-cochlea.html "cochlea." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-cochlea.html |
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