noun
- Plural of cochlea; the spiral-shaped part of the inner ear that converts sound vibrations into nerve signals for hearing.
Usage: anatomy; technical
Examples
- The cochleas of both ears work together to help us locate sounds in space.
- Damage to the cochleas can result in permanent hearing loss.
- Audiologists study the cochleas to understand how hearing disorders develop.
- The fluid inside the cochleas moves in response to sound waves.
- Cochlear implants bypass damaged cochleas to stimulate the auditory nerve directly.