Cochlea-Organ of Corti

The organ of Corti (organum spirale, papilla spiralis) rests on the basilar membrane. It represents the part of the cochlear duct, which has differentiated into a sensor y epithelium. There are two groups of cells with different functions in this epithelial layer. 1. The sensory cells or hair cells. The fibers of the acoustic nerve end at the hair cells. 2. The phalangeal support cells 3 . Both cell types form rows. A surface view confirms the cell arrangement in rows.  This figure shows the singular rows of inner sensor y cells (hair cells ) 1 and the triple or quadruple rows of the outer hair cells 2 . The hair consists of stereocilia ( cochlear stereocilia ). Inner and outer hair cells show numerous differences in their morphological attributes, and their functions are different. Both inner and outer hair are directed toward the endolymph .

1 Inner hair cells

2 Outer hair cells

3 Phalangeal cells

Scanning electron microscopy; magnification: × 2000

References

Kuehnel, W.(2003). Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy. 4^th edition . Institute of Anatomy Universitätzu Luebeck Luebeck, Germany . Thieme Stuttgart · New York .