Sisekõrvas

Sisekõrvas refers to the inner ear, a crucial part of the auditory and vestibular systems in vertebrates. It is located deep within the temporal bone of the skull. The inner ear comprises two main functional components: the cochlea, responsible for hearing, and the vestibular system, responsible for balance and spatial orientation.

The cochlea is a spiral-shaped structure filled with fluid. Within the cochlea are tiny hair cells that convert mechanical vibrations into electrical signals. These signals are then transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve, where they are interpreted as sound. The pitch of a sound is determined by which part of the cochlea is stimulated, while the loudness is related to the intensity of the vibration.

The vestibular system consists of the semicircular canals and the otolith organs (utricle and saccule). The three semicircular canals are oriented in different planes and detect rotational movements of the head. The otolith organs detect linear acceleration and the pull of gravity. Information from the vestibular system, along with input from vision and proprioception (the sense of the body's position), allows the brain to maintain balance and coordinate movement. Disruptions to the inner ear can lead to various conditions such as hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and problems with balance.