| cochlear hair cells | Sensory cell's in the organ of Corti in synaptic contact with sensory as well as efferent fibres of the cochlear (auditory) nerve; from the apical end of each cell about 100 stereocilia extend from the surface and make contact with the tectorial membrane. Synonym: Corti's cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| cochlear hair cell | <anatomy> The sound sensing cell of the inner ear. The cells have modified ciliary structures (hairs), that enable them to produce an electrical (neural) response to mechanical motion caused by the effect of sound waves on the cochlea. Frequency is detected by the position of the cell in the cochlea and amplitude by the magnitude of the disturbance. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| vestibular hair cells | Cell's in the sensory epithelium of the maculae and cristae of the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear; afferent and efferent nerve fibres of the vestibular nerve end synaptically upon them; from the apical end of each cell a bundle of stereocilia and a kinocilium extend into the statoconial membrane of the maculae and the cupula of the cristae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hair cells | Mechanoreceptors located in the organ of corti that are sensitive to auditory stimuli and in the vestibular apparatus that are sensitive to movement of the head. In each case the accessory sensory structures are arranged so that appropriate stimuli cause movement of the hair-like projections (stereocilia and kinocilia) which relay the information centrally in the nervous system. (12 Dec 1998) |
| hair cells, inner | Bulbous cells that are medially placed in one row in the organ of corti. In contrast to the outer hair cells, the inner hair cells are fewer in number, have fewer sensory hairs, and are less differentiated. (12 Dec 1998) |
| hair cells, outer | Mechanoreceptors in the organ of corti. In mammals the outer hair cells are arranged in three rows which are further from the modiolus than the single row of inner hair cells. The motile properties of the outer hair cells may contribute actively to tuning the sensitivity and frequency selectivity of the cochlea. (12 Dec 1998) |
| hair cells, vestibular | Mechanoreceptors located in the acoustic maculae and the saemicircular canals that mediate the sense of balance, movement, and head position. The vestibular hair cells are connected to accessory structures in such a way that movements of the head displace their stereocilia. This influences the membrane potential of the cells which relay information about movements via the vestibular part of the acoustic nerve to the brainstem. (12 Dec 1998) |
| basal lamina of cochlear | A thin layer of tissue covered with mesothelial cells that separates the cochlea from the scala tympani in the ear. (18 Nov 1997) |
| basilar crest of cochlear duct | An inward projection of the spiral ligament of the cochlea to which is attached the basilar membrane forming the floor of the cochlear duct. Synonym: crista basilaris ductus cochlearis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vein of cochlear aqueduct | It drains the cochlea, sacculus, and part of the utricules, and empties into the superior bulb of the jugular vein by accompanying the perilymphatic duct through the cochlear canaliculus. Synonym: vena aqueductus cochleae, vein of cochlear aqueduct, vena canaliculi cochleae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vein of cochlear canaliculus | It drains the cochlea, sacculus, and part of the utricules, and empties into the superior bulb of the jugular vein by accompanying the perilymphatic duct through the cochlear canaliculus. Synonym: vena aqueductus cochleae, vein of cochlear aqueduct, vena canaliculi cochleae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vestibular caecum of the cochlear duct | <anatomy> The lower extremity of the cochlear duct, occupying the cochlear recess in the vestibule. Synonym: caecum vestibulare, vestibular blind sac. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vestibular wall of cochlear duct | The membrane separating the cochlear duct from the vestibular canal; it consists of squamous epithelial cells with microvilli toward the ductus, a basement membrane, and a thin layer of connective tissue toward the scala. Synonym: membrana vestibularis, paries vestibularis ductus cochlearis, Reissner's membrane, vestibular wall of cochlear duct. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Reichert's cochlear recess | A small depression on the inner wall of the vestibule of the labyrinth at the portion of the pyramid of vestibule, between the two limbs into which the vestibular crest divides posteriorly; it is perforated by foramina giving passage to fibres which the cochlear branch of the vestibulocochlear nerve sends to the posterior extremity of the cochlear duct. Synonym: recessus cochlearis, Reichert's cochlear recess. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cochlear | <anatomy> Of or pertaining to the cochlea. (18 Nov 1997) |
| cochlear aqueduct | A channel containing perilymph passing through the temporal bone, connecting the scala tympani of the cochlea to the subarachnoid space. (12 Dec 1998) |