Biomaterial Database

Cochlear anatomy related to cochlear micromechanics. A review. 1980

D J Lim

The sensory cilia of the mammalian cochlea show an orderly gradation in height along the length of the cochlea. The cilia are taller in the apex and shorter in the base. Differences in ciliary gradation also exist between the different rows of outer hair cell cilia along the length of the cochlea. There are gradations in width and thickness in the moveable portion of the tectorial membrane paralleling those in the basilar membrane. There are also gradations in the relationship between the tectorial membrane and the slope of the reticular lamina along the length of the cochlea. This suggests that there may be additional mechanical fine-tuning capability built into the organ of Corti besides the basilar membrane. The tectorial membrane is firmly attached to the outer hair cell cilia along the entire length of the cochlea in all species examined. The inner hair cell cilia do not have the same firm attachment to the tectorial membrane as outer hair cell cilia. This suggests that the modes of mechanical coupling between the tectorial membrane and the inner and outer hair cell cilia are different.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009925	Organ of Corti	The spiral EPITHELIUM containing sensory AUDITORY HAIR CELLS and supporting cells in the cochlea. Organ of Corti, situated on the BASILAR MEMBRANE and overlaid by a gelatinous TECTORIAL MEMBRANE, converts sound-induced mechanical waves to neural impulses to the brain.	Basilar Papilla,Corti's Organ,Spiral Organ,Corti Organ,Cortis Organ,Organ, Corti's,Organ, Spiral,Organs, Spiral,Papilla, Basilar,Spiral Organs
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D002682	Chinchilla	A genus of the family Chinchillidae which consists of three species: C. brevicaudata, C. lanigera, and C. villidera. They are used extensively in biomedical research.	Chinchillas
D003051	Cochlea	The part of the inner ear (LABYRINTH) that is concerned with hearing. It forms the anterior part of the labyrinth, as a snail-like structure that is situated almost horizontally anterior to the VESTIBULAR LABYRINTH.	Cochleas
D006168	Guinea Pigs	A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.	Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D006198	Hair Cells, Auditory	Sensory cells in the organ of Corti, characterized by their apical stereocilia (hair-like projections). The inner and outer hair cells, as defined by their proximity to the core of spongy bone (the modiolus), change morphologically along the COCHLEA. Towards the cochlear apex, the length of hair cell bodies and their apical STEREOCILIA increase, allowing differential responses to various frequencies of sound.	Auditory Hair Cells,Cochlear Hair Cells,Auditory Hair Cell,Cell, Cochlear Hair,Cells, Cochlear Hair,Cochlear Hair Cell,Hair Cell, Auditory,Hair Cell, Cochlear,Hair Cells, Cochlear
D006199	Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner	Auditory sensory cells of organ of Corti, usually placed in one row medially to the core of spongy bone (the modiolus). Inner hair cells are in fewer numbers than the OUTER AUDITORY HAIR CELLS, and their STEREOCILIA are approximately twice as thick as those of the outer hair cells.	Auditory Hair Cell, Inner,Auditory Hair Cells, Inner,Cochlear Inner Hair Cell,Cochlear Inner Hair Cells,Hair Cell, Auditory, Inner,Inner Auditory Hair Cell,Inner Auditory Hair Cells,Inner Hair Cells,Cell, Inner Hair,Cells, Inner Hair,Hair Cell, Inner,Hair Cells, Inner,Inner Hair Cell
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000882	Haplorhini	A suborder of PRIMATES consisting of six families: CEBIDAE (some New World monkeys), ATELIDAE (some New World monkeys), CERCOPITHECIDAE (Old World monkeys), HYLOBATIDAE (gibbons and siamangs), CALLITRICHINAE (marmosets and tamarins), and HOMINIDAE (humans and great apes).	Anthropoidea,Monkeys,Anthropoids,Monkey
D001489	Basilar Membrane	A basement membrane in the cochlea that supports the hair cells of the ORGAN OF CORTI, consisting keratin-like fibrils. It stretches from the SPIRAL LAMINA to the basilar crest. The movement of fluid in the cochlea, induced by sound, causes displacement of the basilar membrane and subsequent stimulation of the attached hair cells which transform the mechanical signal into neural activity.	Basilar Membranes,Membrane, Basilar,Membranes, Basilar