The cochlea is a vital part of our ear, allowing us to detect a wide range of frequencies of sound. This is a picture showing the characteristic snail shell structure of the cochlea in the inner ear, captured on a high-resolution electron microscope. The bone usually covering the cochlea has been removed to open up a window into the hidden world of hearing.

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Credit: The cochlea is a vital part of our ear, allowing us to detect a wide range of frequencies of sound. This is a picture showing the characteristic snail shell structure of the cochlea in the inner ear, captured on a high-resolution electron microscope. The bone usually covering the cochlea has been removed to open up a window into the hidden world of hearing. Steph Hares, University of Bristol. Source: Wellcome Collection.