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Cross section of the posterior spiral vein (arrow) in the basal turn. In this location the vein has virtually no bony covering. ST, scala tympani; MD modiolus.

Cochlear cross section showing a vein (arrow) traversing the floor of scala tympani and approaching the posterior spiral vein. The vein has no bony covering.

A: Cross section of a vein (arrow) on the floor of scala tympani. Note that it has only a thin connective tissue covering. B: Longitudinal section of a vein (arrows) on floor of scala tympani. The vessel appears completely exposed to the perilymphatic space.

Cross sections of the modiolus region showing veins coursing near the surface of the modiolar wall. In “A” the vein indicated by the arrow has a very thin covering of bone. In an adjacent section, shown in “B” , a similar vein (arrow) appears entirely exposed to the perilymphatic space. (In this case the vein does not contain RBC’s, but it certainly does appear to be a vein .) It would seem that such vessels might easily be injured by a perimodiolar electrode. OL, osseous lamina; SG, spiral

Dissection in which the osseous lamina and basilar membrane have been removed so as to show the modiolar wall in the basal cochlear turn of an osmium-stained specimen. Neural elements associated with the modiolar wall are well displayed. “G” indicates the spiral ganglion. Peripheral (P) and central (C) processes of spiral ganglion cells are seen emerging from the ganglion along the length of the basal turn. ST, floor of scala tympani. This preparation shows the same anatomical features

Cochlear dissection after insertion of an Advanced Bionics Thin Lateral electrode array designed to track the lateral wall of scala tympani. With this array, contacts are placed immediately beneath the basilar membrane. From Wright, CG, Roland PS, Kuzma J. Advanced Bionics Thin Lateral and Helix II electrodes: a temporal bone study. Laryngoscope 115(11);2005:2041-2045. Copyright Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. Reproduced with permission. http://lww.com

Cochlear dissection after insertion of a cochlear implant electrode array (Advanced Bionics Thin Helix). The array has been colored blue to provide better contrast of the silicon carrier. The array lies in scala tympani and is situated beneath the translucent basilar membrane. The apical cochlear turn has been removed to provide an unobstructed view of the basal turn. From Wright, CG, Roland PS, Kuzma J. Advanced Bionics Thin Lateral and Helix II electrodes: a temporal bone study

Osseous lamina with its nerve fibers in a specimen oriented in nearly horizontal plane.

A preparation in which the modiolus and osseous lamina are seen in profile after removal of the otic capsule bone covering the human cochlea.

Cross section of mouse cochlear duct, basal turn, showing internal structure of organ of Corti to complement surface views seen in the previous images.