# Cochlear duct

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The **cochlear duct** (a.k.a. the **scala media**) is an [endolymph](/source/Endolymph) filled cavity inside the [cochlea](/source/Cochlea), located between the [tympanic duct](/source/Tympanic_duct) and the [vestibular duct](/source/Vestibular_duct), separated by the [basilar membrane](/source/Basilar_membrane) and the [vestibular membrane](/source/Vestibular_membrane) (Reissner's membrane) respectively. The cochlear duct houses the [organ of Corti](/source/Organ_of_Corti).[1]

## Structure

The cochlear duct is part of the [cochlea](/source/Cochlea). It is separated from the [tympanic duct](/source/Tympanic_duct) (scala tympani) by the [basilar membrane](/source/Basilar_membrane).[2] It is separated from the [vestibular duct](/source/Vestibular_duct) (scala vestibuli) by the [vestibular membrane](/source/Vestibular_membrane) (Reissner's membrane).[2] The [stria vascularis](/source/Stria_vascularis_of_cochlear_duct) is located in the wall of the cochlear duct.[2]

### Development

The cochlear duct develops from the ventral [otic vesicle](/source/Otic_vesicle) (otocyst).[3] It grows slightly flattened between the middle and outside of the body.[3] This development may be regulated by the genes [EYA1](/source/EYA1), [SIX1](/source/SIX1), [GATA3](/source/GATA3), and [TBX1](/source/TBX1).[3] The [organ of Corti](/source/Organ_of_Corti) develops inside the cochlear duct.[4]

## Function

The cochlear duct contains the [organ of Corti](/source/Organ_of_Corti).[2][5] This is attached to the basilar membrane.[5] It also contains [endolymph](/source/Endolymph), which contains high concentrations of K+ for the function of [inner hair cells](/source/Inner_hair_cells) and [outer hair cells](/source/Outer_hair_cells) in the organ of Corti.[2]

## Clinical significance

Drugs delivered directly to the [tympanic duct](/source/Tympanic_duct) will spread to all of the [cochlea](/source/Cochlea) except for the cochlear duct.[6] Rarely, the cochlear duct may develop to have the wrong shape.[3]

## References

1. Hayes, Sarah H.; Ding, Dalian; Salvi, Richard J.; Allman, Brian L. (2013). ["1 – Anatomy and physiology of the external, middle and inner ear"](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702053108000016). *Handbook of Clinical Neurophysiology*. Vol. 10. [Elsevier](/source/Elsevier). pp. 3–23. [doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-5310-8.00001-6](https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7020-5310-8.00001-6). ISBN 978-0-7020-5310-8. [ISSN 1567-4231](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1567-4231)

1. Feher, Joseph (2012). ["4.7 – Hearing"](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128008836000409). *Quantitative Human Physiology – An Introduction*. 2nd ed. [Academic Press](/source/Academic_Press). pp. 440–455. [doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-800883-6.00040-9](https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-800883-6.00040-9). ISBN 978-0-12-800883-6.

1. Fekete, D. M. (2009). ["Cochlear Development"](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780080450469002527). *Encyclopedia of Neuroscience*. [Academic Press](/source/Academic_Press). pp. 1031–1040. [doi:10.1016/B978-008045046-9.00252-7](https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008045046-9.00252-7). ISBN 978-0-08-045046-9.

1. Goodyear, Richard J. & Richardson, Guy P. (2018). ["6 – Structure, Function, and Development of the Tectorial Membrane: An Extracellular Matrix Essential for Hearing"](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0070215318300383). *Current Topics in Developmental Biology*. Vol. 130. [Elsevier](/source/Elsevier). pp. 217–244. [doi:10.1016/bs.ctdb.2018.02.006](https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.ctdb.2018.02.006). ISBN 978-0-12-809802-8. [ISSN 0070-2153](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0070-2153). [PMID 29853178](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29853178)

1. Spelman, Francis A. (2013). ["2.5.11 – Cochlear Prostheses"](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780080877808000838). *Biomaterials Science – An Introduction to Materials in Medicine*. 3rd ed. [Academic Press](/source/Academic_Press). pp. 967–980. [doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-087780-8.00083-8](https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-087780-8.00083-8). ISBN 978-0-12-374626-9.

1. Shepherd, R. K.; Seligman, P. M.; Fallon, J. B. (2015). ["5 – Neuroprostheses for restoring hearing loss"](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781782421016000057). *Implantable Neuroprostheses for Restoring Function*. [Woodhead Publishing](/source/Woodhead_Publishing). pp. 97–125. [doi:10.1016/B978-1-78242-101-6.00005-7](https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-1-78242-101-6.00005-7). ISBN 978-1-78242-101-6.

## External links

- [Cross section](http://www.avatar.com.au/courses/PPofM/hearing/hearing3.html) at avatar.com.au

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cochlear duct](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochlear_duct) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochlear_duct?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.