190 THE AUDITORY NERVE AND COCHLEA, BY W. WALDEYER. 



According to the statements of Max Schultze (50), spiral fibres are found 

 there also. 



These spiral fasciculi of fibrils unquestionably form the most obscure 

 point in the anatomy of the cochlea. In my opinion, they must be 

 regarded in connection with the small layer of large nucleated delicate 

 cells in the sulcus spiralis internus, which I have pointed out as 

 analogous to the inner granule layer of the retina, and for which I 

 have suggested the name of auditory granule layer (see fig. 335A). As 

 many different views are admissible for this layer and also for the 

 spiral fibres, as are still held for the internal granule layer of the retina, 

 or for the granule layer of the cortex of the cerebellum (see Waldeyer, 

 75). Thus, in point of fact, Max Schultze (50), Deiters (13), (for a part 

 of them,) and Middendorp (40), have maintained their connection with 

 the nerve fibrils, regarding them as small (bipolar) ganglion cells ; whilst 

 Deiters (13) again (in regard to the majority of them), as well as Rosen- 

 berg (49), and Hasse (21), deny the nervous nature of all of these 

 structures. The statement made by Rosenberg (49) is worthy of 

 notice, to the effect that their number is greater in young animals, 

 which Gottstein has been able to corroborate in the case of young Dogs. 

 Hasse (21) found this also to be the case in Birds. This last-named 

 author (24, p. 409,) denies the existence of any connection of the struc- 

 tures between the hair cells -and subjacent tissues, and the nerve fibres. 

 The results of my own observations in regard to the cells and fibres 

 in question, and upon the mode in which the nerve fibres terminate, do 

 not render it very probable that either the granule cells or the spiral 

 fibres are of a nervous nature. We should in that case have to admit 

 a double mode of termination to the nerves. The difference between 

 the well-established radial nerve fibres and the spiral fibrous bands 

 (see p. 176 et seq.) is also opposed to it. It only remains, therefore, 

 to regard these fibres and cells as a delicate neuroglia, and to compare 

 them with the non-nervous elements of the internal granule layer and 

 the intergranule layer of the retina. Positive conclusions, however, 

 can only be drawn from further careful inquiry, especially based upon 

 embryological research. 



The older literature of the cochlea is given with tolerable complete- 

 ness in the work of Hildebrandt-Weber (4th Edit., Band iv., p. 7), and 

 this may be compared with Deiters' Essay (13). Putting aside some 

 discoveries of Huschke (28), the histology of the cochlea dates from 

 the researches of Corti (10), (giving an account of the external hair 

 cells, ganglion spirale, stria vascularis, membrane of Corti, etc.). Very 

 important essays, which first rendered a correct understanding of the 

 morphology of the cochlea possible, were furnished by Reissner (46), 



