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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.

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses

Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses

Published on: January 23, 2017

Associations Between Extended High-Frequency Thresholds and Middle Ear Muscle Reflex Growth Functions in Adults With

Sajana Aryal¹, Skylie Flores¹, Spencer B Smith¹

¹Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.

Ear and Hearing

|July 14, 2026

Summary

Elevated extended high-frequency (EHF) hearing loss is linked to reduced middle ear muscle reflex (MEMR) growth in young adults. This suggests MEMR changes may reflect basal cochlear influences, not just synaptopathy, offering insights into early hearing deficits.

Keywords:

Extended high-frequency hearing Middle ear muscle reflex Noise exposure Subclinical deficits

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Last Updated: Jul 15, 2026

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Published on: January 23, 2017

Electrically Evoked Stapedius Reflex Measurements in Cochlear Implantation and Its Application in the Postoperative Fitting Process

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Enhanced Cochlear Coverage and Hearing Preservation in High-Frequency Hearing Loss via Electric Acoustic Stimulation with Longer Electrode

Enhanced Cochlear Coverage and Hearing Preservation in High-Frequency Hearing Loss via Electric Acoustic Stimulation with Longer Electrode

Published on: October 11, 2024

Area of Science:

Audiology
Auditory Neuroscience
Otoacoustic Emissions

Background:

Extended high-frequency (EHF) hearing is crucial for detecting subtle auditory changes.
Middle ear muscle reflex (MEMR) function can provide insights into cochlear health.
Subclinical auditory deficits may be identified through EHF hearing and MEMR assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between elevated EHF hearing thresholds and MEMR growth functions in adults with normal audiograms.
To determine if poorer EHF sensitivity correlates with reduced MEMR growth.
To explore potential early markers of hearing loss by examining EHF hearing and MEMR relationships.

Main Methods:

Eighty-three young adults underwent audiometric testing, noise exposure assessment, tympanometry, and ipsilateral MEMR measurements.
MEMR thresholds and growth functions were measured using a broadband noise elicitor and analyzed with linear and segmented regression.
Linear mixed-effects models assessed the relationship between standard/EHF hearing thresholds and MEMR outcomes, controlling for covariates.

Main Results:

Elevated EHF thresholds were associated with age but not lifetime noise exposure.
No significant relationship was found between standard or EHF thresholds and MEMR thresholds.
Poorer EHF sensitivity correlated with shallower MEMR growth functions, indicating reduced reflex strength in individuals with EHF loss.

Conclusions:

Elevated EHF thresholds in young adults with normal audiograms are linked to shallower MEMR growth.
MEMR thresholds appear insensitive to variations in EHF hearing.
MEMR growth characteristics may reflect basal cochlear influences, extending beyond solely indicating cochlear synaptopathy.