PSL300H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Otolith
Document Summary
Mechanoreceptors in 2 inner ear structures: 1) semicircular canals detect angular acceleration, 2) otolith organs detect linear forces or accelerations (f = ma) Set of 3 on each side of head oriented orthogonally to one another. Hair cell receptors located within ampulla (enlargement at end of canal) Hair cell stereocilia embedded in the cupula which forms a flexible barrier across the ampulla o cupula blocks off the canal and the flow of endolymph. Rotation of head causes walls of semicircular (since it"s embedded in the skull: endolymph inside canals stays put net endolymph and walls of the canals exerts direction opposite to the head rotation. Pressure bends the stereocilia and the nerve cells only canals oriented within or close to plane of head rotation are stimulated canals to rotate with head motion between pressure on cupula in hair cells and activates. Stereocilia polarize the hair cell by a gradient in length and.
