| Noun | 1. | cochlea - the snail-shaped tube (in the inner ear coiled around the modiolus) where sound vibrations are converted into nerve impulses by the organ of Cortitube-shaped structure, tube - (anatomy) any hollow cylindrical body structure basilar membrane - a membrane in the cochlea that supports the organ of Corti inner ear, internal ear, labyrinth - a complex system of interconnecting cavities; concerned with hearing and equilibrium modiolus - the central conical bony pillar of the cochlea organ of Corti - the hearing organ of the inner ear; contains receptors that respond to sound waves |