Bottlenose Dolphin Cochlea 0004

2D axial slice from CT scans through the inner ear of a Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). The cochlea and acousto-vestibular (auditory) nerve which are housed in the periotic bone are oriented ventral to the u-shaped tympanic bone which houses the middle cavity and ossicles (malleus, incus, stapes). In-situ the periotic sits dorsal to the tympanic. Specimen courtesy of Dr. Sam Ridgway, Department of Pathology (UCSD).