As of Oct. 3, 2026, MyChart is now your new online health record at Children’s Minnesota. Learn more and activate your account now.
As of Oct. 3, 2026, MyChart is now your new online health record at Children’s Minnesota. Learn more and activate your account now.
Article Translations: (Spanish)
Say: KOH-klee-uh
The cochlea is a hollow tube deep in your ear. It looks like a spiral-shaped snail shell and plays an important part in helping you hear: It changes sounds into nerve messages and sends them to your brain. After the eardrum takes in a sound, the sound gets turned into a vibration that travels to the cochlea. There, the tiny hairs that line the cochlea move and shake, sending messages to your brain that you hear a sound. And this all happens in a split second!
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-2026 KidsHealth ® All rights reserved. Images provided by iStock, Getty Images, Corbis, Veer, Science Photo Library, Science Source Images, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com
Managing your child’s health care is easier with MyChart, your secure online health record at Children’s Minnesota. Set up and activate your Children’s Minnesota MyChart account.
A day for our generous community to join together to ensure that even the tiniest hearts get the strongest possible start.
