Also called the utriculus, a dilated portion of the membranous labyrinth within thee inner ear. It occupies the central part of the bony labyrinth, with the cochlea in front and the semicircular canals, which arise from the utricle, behind.
Within the utricle a small projection, known as the macula, is raised from the epithelium inside the membranous labyrinth. It consists of a group of supporting cells, among which are arranged a number of hair cells. Each hair cell has a fine hair process, which extends from the end of the cell into the cavity of the utricle. These hairs are embedded in a jelly-like material, which contains a large number of calcareous bodies known as otoliths.
The hair cells of the macula are attached to the nervous system by fibers of the vestibular division of the auditory nerve, each cell being served by one fiber.
Next to the utricle is a very similar organ called the saccule. It is also is provided with a macula, like the utricle.
Function of the utricle
The otoliths in the utricle are subject to the action of gravity, and since they are in contact with the hairs of the hair cells the gravitational pull upon them is transmitted to the macula. Furthermore, since gravity always pulls the otoliths towards the center of the earth, a change in the position of the head, and therefore of the utricle, alters the direction in which the otoliths pull in relation to the macula. As a result the stimulus to the hair cells changes, and a different sequence of nerve impulses passes along the vestibular division to the brain.
In this way the utricle continually reports the position of the head. This information, when associated with information from the muscles, is enough to indicate the position of the body as a whole. Thus even a blindfold person knows the exact position in space of each part of her body.
The utricle has cilia lining its walls, and is filled with fluid. There are and there are otoliths (basically little crystals), that are in the fluid. When the head turns, the otoliths don't turn as fast (due to momentum), so they bump into the cilia. When the cilia are bent they send an electrical signal telling you the equilibrium has changed.
This is also how the saccule works, they just work in different directions.
vestibule
ln the saccule and utricle, hair cells cluster within maculae, where their cilia contact the otolith (densely packed mineral crystals, called statoconia, in a matrix)
Saccule, otoliths, utricle, and semicircular ducts.
makes you feel like your spinning. if your not moving but the fluid is then the sensation of spinning still occurs.
Each sac of the ear has on its inner surface a single patch of sensory cells called a macula.
The saccule and utricle
Utricle in vestible and saccule in vestibule.
vestibule
The saccule and utricle are parts of the inner ear. They're in the bony labyrinth of the vestibule.
The utricle and the saccule
utricle and saccule
utricle
Utricle in vestible and saccule in vestibule.
a small anatomical pouch: as a : the part of the membranous labyrinth of the ear into which the semicircular canals open -- called also utriculus b : PROSTATIC UTRICLE
ln the saccule and utricle, hair cells cluster within maculae, where their cilia contact the otolith (densely packed mineral crystals, called statoconia, in a matrix)
It is part of the inner ear or a leather bag and the question is in the wrong category.
NO