cochlea

American  

[kok-lee-uh, koh-klee-uh] / ˈkɒk li ə, ˈkoʊ kli ə /

noun

Anatomy.

cochleae, plural cochleas plural

1. a spiral-shaped cavity forming a division of the internal ear in humans and in most other mammals.

---

cochlea British  

/ ˈkɒklɪə /

noun

1. the spiral tube, shaped like a snail's shell, that forms part of the internal ear, converting sound vibrations into nerve impulses

---

cochlea Scientific  

/ kŏk′lē-ə /

cochleae plural

1. A spiral-shaped cavity of the inner ear and the main organ of hearing. The cochlea contains the nerve endings that transmit sound vibrations from the middle ear to the auditory nerve.

---

Other Word Forms

• cochlear
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of cochlea

1530–40; < Latin < Greek kochlíās snail (with spiral shell), screw, probably akin to kónchē conch

Example Sentences

Under general anesthesia, a surgeon makes a small opening in the cochlea and uses a thin tube to slowly infuse the liquid therapy directly into the inner ear for about 16 minutes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Researchers also found that the cochlea itself is relatively short and compact, which helps it process ultrasonic vibrations.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2026

It’s the type IV collagen in the basement membrane of my cochlea, or inner ear, that is abnormal and contributes to sensorineural hearing loss.

From Salon • Sep. 30, 2024

It’s a challenging disorder for gene therapy, however, because AAVs can’t yet reliably add the needed gene to only those cells and not to others in the cochlea.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 26, 2024

As we might expect, the auditory cortex helps us discern different sounds processed by the cochlea.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin