spiralgånglierna

Spiral gånglierna, also known as spiral ganglia, are collections of nerve cell bodies located in the inner ear of vertebrates. These ganglia are crucial for transmitting auditory and vestibular information from the sensory receptors in the cochlea and vestibular labyrinth to the central nervous system. The spiral ganglion is specifically associated with the cochlea, which is responsible for hearing. Within the spiral ganglion, the cell bodies of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) reside. These neurons have peripheral processes that extend to the hair cells in the organ of Corti within the cochlea, and central processes that bundle together to form the cochlear nerve, a division of the vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII).

The vestibular component of the vestibulocochlear nerve originates from the vestibular ganglia, which are also collections of sensory neuron cell bodies but are located within the vestibular labyrinth. This labyrinth contains structures responsible for balance and spatial orientation. The spiral ganglion plays a vital role in the transduction of mechanical vibrations in the cochlea into electrical signals that the brain can interpret as sound. Damage to the spiral ganglion can lead to sensorineural hearing loss, as the auditory pathway from the cochlea to the brain is interrupted. Research into spiral ganglion preservation and regeneration is an active area in the study of hearing restoration.