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The Cochlea

The Cochlea

The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Cochlear Surface Preparation in the Adult Mouse

Cochlear Surface Preparation in the Adult Mouse

Published on: November 6, 2019

Using the cochlear microphonic as a tool to evaluate cochlear function in mouse models of hearing.

Mary Ann Cheatham¹, Khurram Naik, Peter Dallos

¹Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The Hugh Knowles Center, Northwestern University, 2240 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208-3550, USA. m-cheatham@northwestern.edu

Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology : JARO

|October 20, 2010

Summary

The cochlear microphonic (CM) is not a reliable indicator of hearing amplifier gain, especially in mouse models. This study models CM generation, showing it’s often a passive response, not reflecting outer hair cell function.

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Neonatal Murine Cochlear Explant Technique as an In Vitro Screening Tool in Hearing Research

Neonatal Murine Cochlear Explant Technique as an In Vitro Screening Tool in Hearing Research

Published on: June 8, 2017

Area of Science:

Auditory Neuroscience
Otoacoustic Emissions
Mammalian Hearing Physiology

Background:

The cochlear microphonic (CM) is an electrophysiological response recorded from the cochlea.
Accurate interpretation of CM in mouse models is crucial for hearing research.
Understanding CM generation mechanisms is key to its application as an analytical tool.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a predictive model for cochlear microphonic (CM) generation.
To investigate CM generation in wild-type (WT) and prestin knockout mice.
To clarify the relationship between CM and outer hair cell (OHC) function.

Main Methods:

Computational modeling of CM generation.
Experimental validation using WT and prestin knockout mouse models.
Analysis of CM responses under various physiological and pharmacological conditions.

Main Results:

CM generation is largely a passive electrical response.
Mice lacking OHC amplification generate WT levels of CM for frequencies below ~30 kHz.
CM does not accurately reflect changes in cochlear amplifier gain.

Conclusions:

The cochlear microphonic (CM) is not a suitable metric for assessing changes in cochlear amplifier gain.
Modeling explains paradoxical literature data where CM is unaffected by manipulations altering OHC function.
CM recordings at the round window are primarily influenced by basal OHCs.