Results for semicircular canal
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Dictionary:

semicircular canal


n.

Any of three tubular and looped structures of the inner ear, together functioning in maintenance of the sense of balance in the body.


 
 
Sports Science and Medicine: semicircular canal

One of three fluid-filled canals in the inner ear containing cells, sensitive to movement of the head, which serve as an organ of balance.

 
Wikipedia: semicircular canal
Semicircular canal
Balance_Disorder_Illustration_A.png
Exterior of labyrinth.
Crossection.jpg
Inner ear illustration showing semicircular canal, hair cells, ampulla, cupula, vestibular nerve, & fluid
Latin canalis semicircularis
Gray's subject #232 1049
Artery stylomastoid artery
MeSH Semicircular+Canals

The semicircular canals are three half-circular, interconnected tubes located inside each ear that are the equivalent of three gyroscopes located in three orthogonal planes. The vertical canals are positioned at an angle of about 100 degrees relative to one another, while the horizontal canal makes an angle of about 95 degrees with the posterior canal and an angle of about 110 degrees with the anterior canal. Deviations up to 10-15 degrees between individuals are normal. Because the angles between the canals are not perpendicular, movements of the head stimulate horizontal and vertical canals simultaneously.

The three canals are:

Each canal is filled with a fluid called endolymph and contains a motion sensor with little hairs (cilia) whose ends are embedded in a gelatinous structure called the cupula.

The Semicircular canals are a component of the Labyrinth.

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Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Sports Science and Medicine. The Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science & Medicine. Copyright © Michael Kent 1998, 2006, 2007. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Semicircular canal" Read more

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