FIGURE 1.

Schematic image of the inner ear. A, The inner ear is divided into the cochlea and the vestibular organs. B, A cross section (dotted line from A) shows the 2.5 turns containing the cochlea duct. C, A transverse section of the cochlea illustrating the three fluid compartments: the scala vestibuli, the scala media and the scala tympani. D, The organ of Corti contains the two types of sensory auditory hair cells‐a single row of inner hair cells (red) and three rows of outer hair cells (yellow)‐together with supporting cells. Peripheral fibers from spiral ganglion neurons (SGN) form synapses with the inner and outer hair cells. Note the fewer peripheral fibers that reach out type II SGN as compared with most type I SGN. IHC, inner hair cells; OHC, outer hair cells