Ma'anar ƙamus na "cochlea" shine rami mai siffa mai karkace na kunnen ciki wanda ke da alhakin canza girgizar sauti zuwa motsin jijiyoyi wanda sai a aika zuwa kwakwalwa don fassarawa. Cochlea yana ƙunshe da ƙananan ƙwayoyin gashi waɗanda ke da alhakin gano nau'ikan sauti daban-daban da kuma canza su zuwa siginar lantarki wanda kwakwalwa za ta iya fassara a matsayin sauti. Kalmar "cochlea" ta fito ne daga kalmar Latin don harsashi na katantanwa, saboda siffar karkace.