The organ of Corti is a structure in the inner ear that is responsible for hearing. It is located on the basilar membrane, which is a thin, flexible membrane that runs along the cochlea, the spiral-shaped structure in the inner ear.
What is the organ of Corti and its function?
The organ of Corti contains three rows of outer hair cells and one row of inner hair cells. These hair cells are the sensory receptors for hearing. When sound waves enter the ear, they cause the basilar membrane to vibrate. This vibration causes the hair cells to bend, which generates electrical signals that are sent to the brain. The brain then interprets these signals as sound.
What are the components of the organ of Corti?
Here are some of the components of the organ of Corti:
- Outer hair cells: There are three rows of outer hair cells, each containing about 1,200 cells. These cells are responsible for amplifying sound.
- Inner hair cells: There is one row of inner hair cells, containing about 3,500 cells. These cells are responsible for sending sound information to the brain.
- Basilar membrane: The basilar membrane is a thin, flexible membrane that runs along the cochlea. It is responsible for transmitting sound vibrations to the hair cells.
- Tectorial membrane: The tectorial membrane is a gelatinous membrane that sits above the hair cells. It helps to amplify sound vibrations and to transmit them to the hair cells.
- Tunnel of Corti: The tunnel of Corti is a narrow channel that runs through the organ of Corti. It contains blood vessels and nerves that supply the hair cells.
What is the organ of Corti the receptor of?
The organ of Corti is the receptor of sound waves. When sound waves enter the ear, they cause the tympanic membrane (eardrum) to vibrate. This vibration is then transmitted through the ossicles (three small bones in the middle ear) to the oval window, which is a small opening in the cochlea. The oval window is connected to the basilar membrane, which vibrates in response to the sound waves. This vibration causes the hair cells to bend, which generates electrical signals that are sent to the brain.
Why is it called the organ of Corti?
The organ of Corti is named after Alfonso Corti, an Italian anatomist who first described it in 1851.