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Related Concept Videos

Anatomy of the Ear01:16

Anatomy of the Ear

13.8K
Auditory sensation, commonly called hearing, involves the transformation of sonic waves into neural impulses facilitated by the structures of the auditory organ. The prominent, flesh-like structure on the side of the head, called the auricle, directs sound waves towards the auditory canal. The auricle is often mislabeled as the pinna, a term more aligned with mobile structures like a feline's external ear. The auditory canal penetrates the cranium via the external auditory meatus of the...
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Hearing01:31

Hearing

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When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.
58.9K
The Cochlea01:13

The Cochlea

52.6K
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.
52.6K
Auditory Pathway01:15

Auditory Pathway

8.9K
Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking...
8.9K
Auditory Perception01:17

Auditory Perception

1.5K
The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the...
1.5K
The Auditory Ossicles01:11

The Auditory Ossicles

3.8K
The auditory ossicles of the middle ear transmit sounds from the air as vibrations to the fluid-filled cochlea. The auditory ossicles consist of two malleus (hammer) bones, two incus (anvil) bones, and two stapes (stirrups), one on each side. These bones develop during the fetal stage and are the ones to ossify first. They are fully mature at birth and do not grow afterward.
The aptly named stapes look very much like a stirrup. The three ossicles are unique to mammals, and each plays a role in...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 7, 2026

High-Speed Human Temporal Bone Sectioning for the Assessment of COVID-19-Associated Middle Ear Pathology
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SARS-CoV-2 directly infects the inner ear and causes hearing dysfunction.

Xiaozhou Liu1, Yanjun Zong1, Kunpeng Liu2

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.

Cell Reports
|April 5, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) directly infects inner ear neurons, causing cell death and potential hearing loss. This occurs via spike protein-induced stress granule dysregulation, independent of inflammation.

Keywords:
CP: immunologyCP: neuroscienceSARS-CoV-2cochleahearinginner ear

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Semi-Automated Analysis of Peak Amplitude and Latency for Auditory Brainstem Response Waveforms Using R
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Semi-Automated Analysis of Peak Amplitude and Latency for Auditory Brainstem Response Waveforms Using R
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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Virology
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Epidemiological studies link SARS-CoV-2 infection to auditory dysfunction.
  • The precise mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2-induced hearing loss remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the inner ear.
  • To elucidate the cellular mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2-associated auditory dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • Intranasal infection of K18-ACE2 mice with four SARS-CoV-2 strains.
  • Analysis of inner ear tissues, specifically targeting spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs).
  • Investigation of spike protein interactions and stress granule formation (G3BP1).

Main Results:

  • SARS-CoV-2 directly invades and infects SGNs in the inner ear.
  • Viral infection leads to increased phase separation and apoptosis in SGNs.
  • Spike protein overexpression inhibits mTOR signaling, causing G3BP1-positive stress granule aggregation and neuronal apoptosis.

Conclusions:

  • SARS-CoV-2 infection directly targets SGNs, causing neuronal cell death and potentially hearing loss.
  • An inflammation-independent pathway involving spike protein-driven stress granule dysregulation is identified.
  • Findings provide a foundation for developing targeted therapies for SARS-CoV-2-related hearing impairment.