Vestibular organs include otoliths in which structures?

Vestibular organs include otoliths in which structures?

• A. Utricle and saccule
• B. Cochlea and semicircular canals
• C. Malleus and incus
• D. Vestibule and cochlear duct

Answer: (A)

Otoliths are part of the vestibular system that detect gravity and linear acceleration, and they reside in the two otolithic organs: the utricle and the saccule. Each organ contains a macula—the sensory sheet—covered by a gelatinous layer embedded with otoconia (the otoliths). When your head tilts or you move in a straight line, the inertia of the otoliths causes this layer to shift relative to the hair cells, bending them and signaling linear motion to the brain. The utricle responds mainly to horizontal movements, while the saccule responds mainly to vertical movements. This mechanism isn’t located in the cochlea or semicircular canals (which detect angular acceleration and hearing, respectively), nor in the middle-ear bones (which handle sound conduction). The vestibule does house the utricle and saccule, making them the correct structures for otoliths.

Otoliths are part of the vestibular system that detect gravity and linear acceleration, and they reside in the two otolithic organs: the utricle and the saccule. Each organ contains a macula—the sensory sheet—covered by a gelatinous layer embedded with otoconia (the otoliths). When your head tilts or you move in a straight line, the inertia of the otoliths causes this layer to shift relative to the hair cells, bending them and signaling linear motion to the brain. The utricle responds mainly to horizontal movements, while the saccule responds mainly to vertical movements.

This mechanism isn’t located in the cochlea or semicircular canals (which detect angular acceleration and hearing, respectively), nor in the middle-ear bones (which handle sound conduction). The vestibule does house the utricle and saccule, making them the correct structures for otoliths.