Noun: cochlea (cochleae,cochleas) kók-lee-u or kowk-lee-u
- The snail-shaped tube (in the inner ear coiled around the modiolus) where sound vibrations are converted into nerve impulses by the organ of Corti
"Damage to the cochlea can result in hearing loss"
Derived forms: cochleae, cochleas
Type of: tube, tube-shaped structure
Part of: inner ear, internal ear, labyrinth
Encyclopedia: Cochlea