cochlea

co·chlea

noun \ˈkō-klē-ə, ˈkä-klē-\

plural co·chle·as or co·chle·ae \-klē-ˌē, -ˌī\

Definition of COCHLEA

: a hollow tube in the inner ear of higher vertebrates that is usually coiled like a snail shell and contains the sensory organ of hearing — see ear illustration

— co·chle·ar \ˈkō-klē-ər, ˈkä-\ adjective

Origin of COCHLEA

New Latin, from Latin, snail, snail shell, from Greek kochlias, from kochlos snail; probably akin to Greek konchē mussel

First Known Use: 1688

co·chle·a

noun \ˈkō-klē-ə, ˈkäk-lē-\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; co·chle·asor ; co·chle·ae \ˈkō-klē-ˌē, ˈkäk-lē-ˌē, -ˌī\ (audio pronunciation)

Medical Definition of COCHLEA

: a division of the bony labyrinth of the inner ear coiled into the form of a snail shell and consisting of a spiral canal in the petrous part of the temporal bone in which lies a smaller membranous spiral passage that communicates with the saccule at the base of the spiral, ends blindly near its apex, and contains the organ of Corti

—co·chle·ar \ˈkō-klē-ər, ˈkäk-lē-ər\ (audio pronunciation) adjective

Illustration of COCHLEA