Otolithic membrane

Otolithic membrane

The otolithic membrane is a gelatinous membrane located in the vestibular apparatus of the inner ear, and plays an essential role in the brain's interpretation of equilibrium. Both the saccular macula and utricular macula are covered by an otolithic membrane, thus providing the common name of "the otoliths" to the utricle and saccule.

The membrane is composed of crystalline particles of calcium carbonate called otoliths. When the head is moved the otoliths shift, causing cilia in the nearby saccule and utricle to distort. This produces nerve signals which are sent to the brain, which then uses them to establish its sense of balance.

The embedded crystals are very dense and make the density of the otolithic membrane higher than that of the endolymph surrounding it. When the head accelerates along a line or tilts to change its orientation to gravity, the otolithic membrane shifts relative to the bone supporting the maculae. This shift bends the hair cells whose processes are embedded in the otolithic membrane.




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  • ear, human — ▪ anatomy Introduction       organ of hearing and equilibrium that detects and analyzes noises by transduction (or the conversion of sound waves into electrochemical impulses) and maintains the sense of balance (equilibrium).  The human ear, like …   Universalium

  • Saccule — Infobox Anatomy Name = Saccule Latin = sacculus GraySubject = 232 GrayPage = 1052 Caption = illustration of otolith organs showing detail of utricle, ococonia, endolymph, cupula, macula, hair cell filaments, and saccular nerve Caption2 = MapPos …   Wikipedia

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  • Otolith — organs showing detail of utricle, ococonia, endolymph, cupula, macula, hair cell filaments, and saccular nerve …   Wikipedia

  • membrana statoconiorum — [TA] otolithic membrane: the gelatinous membrane surmounting the maculae, containing the statoconia, and having special sensory hairs projecting into it …   Medical dictionary

  • neuroepithelium macularum — neuroepithelium of maculae: the specialized epithelium of the maculae of the labyrinth, containing vestibular hair cells that project into the otolithic membrane and serve as sensory receptors …   Medical dictionary

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