Organ of Corti

The organ of Corti ( Corti'sches organ, Latin Organon spiral ) is the name given to the interface between the acoustic and mechanical vibrations to nerve signals in the cochlea of the inner ear. It is named after the Italian anatomist Alfonso Corti ( 1822-1876 ).

The organ of Corti is the carrier of the sensor cells in the inner ear of all mammals. It is surrounded by endolymph and contributes in humans in each ear about 20,000 outer and inner hair cells 3500 ( Hörsensorzellen ). The deflection of the " cell hairs " ( stereocilia ) of the hair cells triggers the Reiztransduktion.

The Stereovilli of the outer hair cells have contact with the tectorial membrane ( tectorial membrane or tectorial membrane ). If the basilar membrane is displaced, the tectorial membrane deflects from the Stereovilli the outer hair cells, and they are energized. By moving to open or close the endolymph directed cation channels in the hair cell. Due to the high potassium ion concentration of the potassium ions endolymph fall very quickly into the interior of the hair cell. The depolarization of the cell membrane caused by the hair cells causes an oscillating change in length of the hair cells, which translates to the basilar membrane. This leads to a local reinforcement of the stimulus to the inner hair cells ( cochlear amplifier).

The inner hair cells are also depolarized. This leads to the formation of action potentials, which relay the information about the included sound electrically to the brain. This is done via the vestibulocochlear nerve ( Ramus cochlear, and auditory nerve ), which consists of about 30,000 nerve fibers.