The importance of the hook region of the cochlea for bone-conduction hearing.

ABSTRACT: For the most part, the coiled shape of the cochlea has been shown to have only minor importance for air-conducted hearing. It is hypothesized, however, that this coiled shape may play a more significant role for the bone-conducted (BC) route of hearing, through inertial forces exerted by the middle ear and cochlear fluid, and that this can be tested by comparing the results of applying BC stimuli in a variety of different directions. A three-dimensional finite element model of a human middle ear coupled to the inner ear was formulated. BC excitations were simulated by applying rigid-body vibrations normal to the surface of the basilar membrane (BM) at 0.8 (d(1)), 5.8 (d(2)), 15.6 (d(3)), and 33.1 (d(4)) mm from the base of the cochlea, such that relative motions of the fluid within the coc

SUBMITTER: Kim N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4119269 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature