Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 27, 2026

Cochlear aqueduct

Medial to the opening for the carotid canal and close to its posterior border, in front of the jugular fossa, is a triangular depression; at the apex of this is a small opening, the aquaeductus cochleae, which lodges a tubular prolongation of the dura mater establishing a communication between the perilymphatic space and the subarachnoid space, and transmits a vein from the cochlea to join the internal jugular vein. The cochlear aqueduct lies perpendicular to the petrous apex, in contrast with the vestibular aqueduct, which lies parallel to the petrous apex.

Last revised
Jul 27, 2026
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Aqueduct of cochlea
Left temporal bone. Inferior surface. (Aquæductus cochleæ labeled at left, fifth from the top.)
Details
Identifiers
Latinaquaeductus cochleae
MeSHD003052
TA98A02.1.06.042
TA2679
FMA56454
Anatomical terms of bone

Medial to the opening for the carotid canal and close to its posterior border, in front of the jugular fossa, is a triangular depression; at the apex of this is a small opening, the aquaeductus cochleae (or cochlear aqueduct, or aqueduct of cochlea), which lodges a tubular prolongation of the dura mater establishing a communication between the perilymphatic space and the subarachnoid space, and transmits a vein from the cochlea to join the internal jugular vein. The cochlear aqueduct lies perpendicular to the petrous apex, in contrast with the vestibular aqueduct, which lies parallel to the petrous apex.

Additional images

  • Base of skull. Inferior surface.
    Base of skull. Inferior surface.
References

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 144 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)