Light-sheet microscopy has been used to visualize the 3-D anatomy of one of our smallest and most beautiful organs, the inner ear.

Despite its small size the inner ear has multiple functions with the cochlea being responsible for hearing and the vestibular system for balance.This movie, created for the Human Protein Atlas by Dr Csaba Adori (Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm), takes you on an amazing journey through the delicate structures of the inner ear. Included in the movie is an interview with Dr Francois Lallemend (Karolinska Institutet), where he describes the anatomy of the ear, but also the possible results of damage to this organ. He further explains how the high resolution imaging technology can contribute to the understanding of the function of this organ.

Link to movie

Link to short version movie