摘要Each component of the human ear performs a specific function in heating. The actual process of sound transduction takes place in the auditory portion of the inner ear, the fluid-filled cochlea. In the cochlea, the sensi-tivity and efficiency of sensory apparatus to convert mechanical energy into neural activity, largely depends on the fluidic and ionic environment. In the lateral wall of cochlea, the secretory epithelium stria vascularis plays an im-portant role in the maintenance of fluidic and ionic homeostasis. A variety of gene mutations disturbs the cochlear homeostasis and subsequently leads to hearing impairment. The review covers several aspects of cochlear home-ostasis, from cochlear fluid and the functional role of stria vascularis, cochlear K+ recycling and its molecular sub-strates to genetic deafness with abnormal cochlear homeostasis.