Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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.

Hearing

Hearing

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.

Anatomy of the Ear

Anatomy of the Ear

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...

Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location

Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location

The human brain perceives pitch through two primary mechanisms reflected in place theory and frequency theory. Each mechanism describes how sound waves are interpreted as specific pitches by the brain, offering insights into the intricate processes of auditory perception.
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by identifying...

Auditory Pathway

Auditory Pathway

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 the...

Hair Cells

Hair Cells

Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the auditory system—they transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical energy that the nervous system can understand. Hair cells are located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear, between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The actual sensory receptors are called inner hair cells. The outer hair cells serve other functions, such as sound amplification in the cochlea, and are not discussed in detail here.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Version 3.2026.

Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN·2026

Same author

Transglutaminase and its role in Alzheimer's disease: focus on mitochondria, aging, defective mitophagy, synaptic degeneration, and metabolomics.

GeroScience·2026

Same author

Malignant lymph nodes of the head and neck: imaging pearls, pitfalls, and practical approach to reporting in the era of extranodal extension.

Cancer imaging : the official publication of the International Cancer Imaging Society·2026

Same author

Pediatric validation of an AI-assisted smartphone application (WebCeph) for cephalometric analysis: reliability, reproducibility and time-efficiency assessment.

Dental press journal of orthodontics·2026

Same author

Dynamic Targetable Extracellular Vesicle Surface Proteins Monitor Depth of Response to CAR T Therapy.

Research square·2026

Same author

Evaluation of the association between OXIS interproximal contact morphology and plaque and gingival indicators in children.

Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Published on: January 25, 2016

Conductive hearing loss and normal CT: a clinical perspective.

Dinesh Rao¹, Mallory J Raymond², Joseph T Breen²

¹Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, USA. rao.dinesh@mayo.edu.

|June 29, 2026

Summary

Temporal bone CT scans may not always identify the cause of conductive hearing loss. Radiologists should consider conditions where CT findings are not sensitive to ensure accurate patient diagnosis.

Keywords:

Air bone gap Conductive hearing loss Hearing loss Photon counting detector CT Temporal bone CT

More Related Videos

Simple Surgical Induction of Conductive Hearing Loss with Verification Using Otoscope Visualization and Behavioral Clap Startle Response in Rat

Simple Surgical Induction of Conductive Hearing Loss with Verification Using Otoscope Visualization and Behavioral Clap Startle Response in Rat

Published on: October 26, 2019

Cryosectioning and Immunostaining Mouse Inner Ear Tissue: From Embryonic to Adult Stages

Cryosectioning and Immunostaining Mouse Inner Ear Tissue: From Embryonic to Adult Stages

Published on: April 11, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Published on: January 25, 2016

Simple Surgical Induction of Conductive Hearing Loss with Verification Using Otoscope Visualization and Behavioral Clap Startle Response in Rat

Simple Surgical Induction of Conductive Hearing Loss with Verification Using Otoscope Visualization and Behavioral Clap Startle Response in Rat

Published on: October 26, 2019

Cryosectioning and Immunostaining Mouse Inner Ear Tissue: From Embryonic to Adult Stages

Cryosectioning and Immunostaining Mouse Inner Ear Tissue: From Embryonic to Adult Stages

Published on: April 11, 2025

Area of Science:

Radiology
Otolaryngology
Medical Imaging

Background:

Conductive hearing loss (CHL) is often diagnosed with temporal bone CT.
Imaging is crucial for identifying anatomical causes of CHL.

Purpose of the Study:

To present clinical scenarios where CHL exists without clear temporal bone CT findings.
To highlight limitations of temporal bone CT in diagnosing CHL.

Main Methods:

Literature review of CHL cases with no attributable imaging findings.
Correlation of audiological exams with photon counting detector CT scans.
Review of common CHL etiologies like otosclerosis.

Main Results:

Temporal bone CT may not be sensitive to all pathophysiological conditions causing CHL.
No imaging study is 100% accurate for diagnosing CHL.
Illustrative examples demonstrate discrepancies between audiological findings and CT results.

Conclusions:

Radiologists must be aware of CHL causes not detectable by temporal bone CT.
Avoid over-interpreting CT findings when CHL is present.
Consider clinical context alongside imaging for CHL diagnosis.