1. plural of cochlea; the spiral-shaped cavities of the inner ear that contain the organ of hearing
Usage: anatomy; medical

Examples

• The surgeon examined both cochleae during the hearing assessment.
• Damage to the cochleae can result in permanent hearing loss.
• The cochleae convert sound vibrations into electrical signals for the brain.
• Researchers studied the development of cochleae in newborn mammals.
• The infection affected both cochleae, causing bilateral hearing impairment.
• Cochlear implants are designed to bypass damaged cochleae.
• The anatomy textbook showed detailed cross-sections of human cochleae.