English

Noun

helicotrema ‎(plural helicotremata or helicotremas)

1. (anatomy) The part of the cochlear labyrinth where the scala tympani and the scala vestibuli meet.
   • 1849, J. D. Macdonald, “Development and comparative anatomy of the organ of hearing”, in London Journal of Medicine, page 870:

     These openings may be respectively named the cochlear and vestibular helicotremata, the latter being many degrees larger than the former; so that, should a fluid be poured into the cupola, it will pass into the vestibular rather than the tympanic scala.

   • 1907, Johannes Sobotta, Atlas and Text-book of Human Anatomy: Vascular system, lymphatic system, nervous system and sense organs:

     The lower tympanic scala begins at the crest of the cochlear fenestra and courses up spirally below the osseous spiral lamina, while the upper vestibular scala begins at the vestibular recess and passes above the spiral membrane to the helicotrema.

   • 2012, Peter Dallos, The Auditory Periphery Biophysics and Physiology, page 183:

     We have made measurements on the size of the helicotrema two ways, either by reconstructing the helicotremas from serial sections, or directly in osmium-fixed preparations.

Derived terms

• helicotremal