Cochlea
/ˈkɒk.li.ə/noun
The spiral-shaped part of the inner ear that converts vibrations into nerve signals for hearing.
Did you know?Ancient Greek physicians named this inner-ear structure for its resemblance to a snail’s spiral shell, centuries before its role in hearing was understood.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
κοχλίας (kokhlias)
“Snail; spiral shell; anything snail-shaped”
Classical Latin
Latin
cochlea
“Snail or spiral shell”
Late Antiquity
Latin
cochlea auris
“The spiral, snail-like structure of the ear”
Medieval Latin
Latin
cochlea
“The spiral part of the inner ear”
17th Century
English
cochlea
“The spiral cavity of the inner ear”
Modern English
English
cochlea
“The hearing organ’s coiled, snail-shaped inner-ear structure”
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