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Temporal bone study of development of the organ of Corti: correlation between auditory function and anatomical structure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 March 2007

A G Bibas ,
J Xenellis ,
L Michaels ,
S Anagnostopoulou ,
E Ferekidis  and
A Wright
A G Bibas*
Affiliation:
UCL Ear Institute, Royal Free & University College London Medical School, London, UK Department of Otolaryngology, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
J Xenellis
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
L Michaels
Affiliation:
UCL Ear Institute, Royal Free & University College London Medical School, London, UK
S Anagnostopoulou
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
E Ferekidis
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
A Wright
Affiliation:
UCL Ear Institute, Royal Free & University College London Medical School, London, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Athanasios Bibas, 2 Nikitara Str, 154 51 Athens, Greece. Fax: 0030 210 7778 095 E-mail: thanosbibas@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Objective:

To study the development of the organ of Corti in the human cochlea, and to correlate our findings with the onset of auditory function.

Material and methods:

Step sections of 81 human fetal temporal bones were studied, from eight weeks of gestation to full term.

Results:

By the end of the 10th week, the tectorial membrane primordium could be traced even in the most apical turns. Individual hair cells became identifiable at the basal turn at 14 weeks. At the same time, a small but well formed oval space was observed between the inner and outer hair cells in the basal turn. This does not correspond to the tunnel of Corti, as is erroneously quoted in the literature, as the individual pillar cells develop at later stages. Between 14 and 15 weeks, Hensen's cells were recognised for the first time. Individual pillar cells were identifiable at 17 weeks and the tunnel of Corti opened at 20 weeks. By 25 weeks, the cochlea had reached its adult size, but continued to develop until full term.

Discussion and conclusions:

A temporal coincidence of different developmental events is responsible for early fetal audition at 20 weeks, including growth of pillar cells, opening of the tunnel of Corti and regression of Kollicker's organ, with the subsequent formation of the inner spiral sulcus and then separation of the tectorial membrane. The fine structures of the organ of Corti continue to develop well after the 25th week, and this may well alter the mechanical properties of the vibrating parts of the cochlea, which may in turn account for the frequency shift observed in preterm infants. These changes will have to be taken into account in the development of prenatal hearing screening tests.

Keywords

Organ of CortiCochleaGrowth And DevelopmentHumansFetusHearingMass Screening
Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 122 , Issue 4 , April 2008 , pp. 336 - 342
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2007

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