Why is array_key_exists 1000x slower than isset on referenced arrays?

I have found that array_key_exists is over 1000x slower than isset at check if a key is set in an array reference. Does anyone that has an understanding of how PHP is implemented explain why this is true?

EDIT: I've added another case that seems to point to it being overhead required in calling functions with a reference.

Benchmark Example

function isset_( $key, array $array )
{
    return isset( $array[$key] );
}

$my_array = array();
$start = microtime( TRUE );
for( $i = 1; $i < 10000; $i++ ) {
    array_key_exists( $i, $my_array );
    $my_array[$i] = 0;
}
$stop = microtime( TRUE );
print "array_key_exists( \$my_array ) ".($stop-$start).PHP_EOL;
unset( $my_array, $my_array_ref, $start, $stop, $i );

$my_array = array();
$start = microtime( TRUE );
for( $i = 1; $i < 10000; $i++ ) {
    isset( $my_array[$i] );
    $my_array[$i] = 0;
}
$stop = microtime( TRUE );
print "isset( \$my_array ) ".($stop-$start).PHP_EOL;
unset( $my_array, $my_array_ref, $start, $stop, $i );

$my_array = array();
$start = microtime( TRUE );
for( $i = 1; $i < 10000; $i++ ) {
    isset_( $i, $my_array );
    $my_array[$i] = 0;
}
$stop = microtime( TRUE );
print "isset_( \$my_array ) ".($stop-$start).PHP_EOL;
unset( $my_array, $my_array_ref, $start, $stop, $i );

$my_array = array();
$my_array_ref = &$my_array;
$start = microtime( TRUE );
for( $i = 1; $i < 10000; $i++ ) {
    array_key_exists( $i, $my_array_ref );
    $my_array_ref[$i] = 0;
}
$stop = microtime( TRUE );
print "array_key_exists( \$my_array_ref ) ".($stop-$start).PHP_EOL;
unset( $my_array, $my_array_ref, $start, $stop, $i );

$my_array = array();
$my_array_ref = &$my_array;
$start = microtime( TRUE );
for( $i = 1; $i < 10000; $i++ ) {
    isset( $my_array_ref[$i] );
    $my_array_ref[$i] = 0;
}
$stop = microtime( TRUE );
print "isset( \$my_array_ref ) ".($stop-$start).PHP_EOL;
unset( $my_array, $my_array_ref, $start, $stop, $i );