Anatomy
labyrinth Audio
lab·y·rinth [ lab-uh-rinth ]
Subclass of:
Ear
Etymology:
Greek labyrinthos = a maze
Perhaps adopted into Greek from Crete, for it was in Crete that the famous labyrinth and the mythological Minotaur existed. First applied to the internal ear by Fallopius in 1550.
Definitions related to labyrinth:
  • (inner ear) The innermost portion of the ear that contains the vestibule, cochlea and semicircular canals.
    CDISC Terminology
    Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC), 2021
  • Internal ear; the essential part of the organ of hearing, consisting of an osseous and a membranous portion.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • (inner ear) The deepest part of the ear, consisting of the cochlea and the labyrinth.
    Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
    Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011
  • (inner ear) The portion of the ear located within the temporal bone that is involved in both hearing and balance and includes the semicircular canals, vestibule, and cochlea. (from American Heritage Dictionary online)
    NCI Thesaurus
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • (ear, inner) The essential part of the hearing organ consists of two labyrinthine compartments: the bony labyrinthine and the membranous labyrinth. The bony labyrinth is a complex of three interconnecting cavities or spaces (COCHLEA; VESTIBULAR LABYRINTH; and SEMICIRCULAR CANALS) in the TEMPORAL BONE. Within the bony labyrinth lies the membranous labyrinth which is a complex of sacs and tubules (COCHLEAR DUCT; SACCULE AND UTRICLE; and SEMICIRCULAR DUCTS) forming a continuous space enclosed by EPITHELIUM and connective tissue. These spaces are filled with LABYRINTHINE FLUIDS of various compositions.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
  • The fluid-filled inner ear (labyrinth) is a complex structure consisting of two major parts: the organ of hearing (cochlea); the organ of balance (vestibular system).
    Merck Manuals
    Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
  • In mammals, the anatomy of the inner ear consists of the bony labyrinth, a system of passages making up the following 2 main functional parts: (1) the cochlea, which is dedicated to hearing, and (2) the vestibular system, which is dedicated to balance. The inner ear is found in all vertebrates, with substantial variations in form and...
    Medscape
    WebMD, 2019
  • Inner ear, part of the ear that contains organs of the senses of hearing and equilibrium. The bony labyrinth, a cavity in the temporal bone, is divided into three sections: the vestibule, the semicircular canals, and the cochlea. Within the bony labyrinth is a membranous labyrinth, which is also...
    Encyclopedia Britannica
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
Try this search on: Farlex, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary, or Wordnik

This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.