A semilunar opening at the apex of the cochlea through which the scala vestibuli and the scala tympani of the cochlea communicate with one another. SYN: Breschet hiatus, Scarpa hiatus. [G. helix, a spiral, + trema, a hole]
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hel·i·co·trema .hel-ə-kō-'trē-mə n the minute opening by which the scala tympani and scala vestibuli communicate at the top of the cochlea of the ear
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n.
the narrow opening between the scala vestibuli and the scala tympani at the tip of the cochlea in the ear.
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hel·i·co·tre·ma (hel″ĭ-ko-treґmə) [helico- + Gr. trēma hole] [TA] the passage of the ear that connects the scala tympani and scala vestibuli at the apex of the cochlea.
Helicotrema, shown in the right bony labyrinth.
Medical dictionary. 2011.