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Auditory and Vestibular Efferents pp 17–37Cite as

Anatomy of Olivocochlear Neurons

Part of the book series: Springer Handbook of Auditory Research ((SHAR,volume 38))

Abstract

Hair cell receptors for the hearing and balance organs, and the lateral line, are unique among the senses by receiving an efferent innervation of the periphery. Olivocochlear (OC) neurons supply this efferent innervation, and they are the most peripheral of the many descending neural systems of the central auditory pathway (see Schofield, Chap. 9). OC neurons are named by their origins in the superior olivary complex and terminations in the cochlea (Fig. 2.1). In the cochlea, they innervate the hair cells and auditory-nerve fibers. This chapter mainly covers the new ground on OC anatomy in mammals since Warr’s (1992) comprehensive chapter on this topic about 15 years ago. Since that time, there is even stronger evidence for the separate innervation of the periphery by the two major groups of OC neurons. It is also now clear that both of these groups consist of distinct subgroups. There is additional information on the reflex pathways leading up to OC neurons that enables their response to sound. Overall, this anatomy may help to define the functions that OC neurons perform in the sense of hearing.

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Acknowledgments

I thank Dr. M. Charles Liberman for comments on the manuscript and Ms. Marie Drottar for assistance with the figures. This work was Supported by NIH grant DCD 01089.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    M. Christian Brown

  2. Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    M. Christian Brown

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Correspondence to M. Christian Brown .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Program in Neuroscience, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria St., Level 7, Darlinghurst, NSW2010, Australia

    David K. Ryugo

  2. Parmly Hearing Institute, Loyola University Chicago, 6525 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, 60626, Illinois, USA

    Richard R. Fay

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Brown, M.C. (2011). Anatomy of Olivocochlear Neurons. In: Ryugo, D., Fay, R. (eds) Auditory and Vestibular Efferents. Springer Handbook of Auditory Research, vol 38. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7070-1_2

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