cochlea
Anatomical term for the spiral-shaped cavity in the inner ear. Cross-referenced with 蝸牛 (sense 2), which also means 'cochlea'.
See also: 蝸牛
The cochlea is part of the auditory organ in the inner ear.
Compound of 蝸牛 (snail) and 殻 (shell), literally 'snail shell', from the spiral shape of the cochlea. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the anatomical meaning.