Sacculus, saccule and utricle. Medical search. FAQ

macula
The anterior part of the saccule exhibits an oval thickening, the macula acustica sacculi, or macula, to which are distributed the saccular filaments of the vestibular branch of the vestibulocochlear nerve, also known as the statoacoustic nerve or cranial nerve VIII. (wikipedia.org)
The utricular macula lie horizontal in the utricle, while the saccular macula lies vertical in the saccule. (wikipedia.org)
They contain the sensory hair cells and otoliths of the macula of utricle and of the saccule, respectively, which respond to linear acceleration and the force of gravity. (wikipedia.org)

calcium carbonate
An otolith (Greek: ὠτο-, ōto- ear + λῐ́θος, líthos, a stone), also called statoconium or otoconium or statolith, is a calcium carbonate structure in the saccule or utricle of the inner ear, specifically in the vestibular labyrinth of vertebrates. (wikipedia.org)
In mammals, otoliths are small particles, composed of a combination of a gelatinous matrix and calcium carbonate in the viscous fluid of the saccule and utricle. (wikipedia.org)
The type of motion or attitude detected by a hair cell depends on its associated mechanical structures, such as the curved tube of a semicircular canal or the calcium carbonate crystals (otolith) of the saccule and utricle. (wikipedia.org)

inner ear
The saccule is a bed of sensory cells situated in the inner ear. (wikipedia.org)
Endolymphatic infillings such as otoliths are structures in the saccule and utricle of the inner ear, specifically in the vestibular labyrinth of all vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds). (wikipedia.org)

endolymphatic
From the posterior wall of the saccule is given off a canal, the ductus endolymphaticus (endolymphatic duct). (wikipedia.org)
The utricular division of the auditory vesicle also responds to angular acceleration, as well as the endolymphatic sac and duct that connect the saccule and utricle. (wikipedia.org)

otoconia
In mice lacking the otoconia of the utricle and saccule, this retained acoustic sensitivity is lost. (wikipedia.org)
Otolithic membranes of utricles in reptiles and amphibians represent thin plates of non-uniform structure, while the otolithic membrane in the saccule resembles a large cobble-stone-like conglomerate of otoconia. (wikipedia.org)

vestibular
The vestibular system includes the saccule, utricle, and the three semicircular canals. (wikipedia.org)
The saccule, or sacculus, is the smaller of the two vestibular sacs. (wikipedia.org)
From the lower part of the saccule a short tube, the canalis reuniens of Hensen, passes downward and opens into the ductus cochlearis near its vestibular extremity. (wikipedia.org)
The structures that enable the saccule to gather this vestibular information are the hair cells. (wikipedia.org)
There is evidence that the vestibular system of mammals has retained some of its ancestral acoustic sensitivity and that this sensitivity is mediated by the otolithic organs (most likely the sacculus, due to its anatomical location). (wikipedia.org)

horizontal
The difference between them is that the utricle is more sensitive to horizontal acceleration, whereas the saccule is more sensitive to vertical acceleration. (wikipedia.org)
Because of their orientation in the head, the utricle is sensitive to a change in horizontal movement, and the saccule gives information about vertical acceleration (such as when in an elevator). (wikipedia.org)

sensory
When the head moves vertically, the sensory cells of the saccule are disturbed and the neurons connected to them begin transmitting impulses to the brain. (wikipedia.org)
The saccule gathers sensory information to orient the body in space. (wikipedia.org)

sensitivity
Research has shown, like songbirds, females in some species of fish show seasonal variation in auditory processing and the sensitivity of the saccule of females peaks during the breeding season. (wikipedia.org)

head
The saccule translates head movements into neural impulses which the brain can interpret. (wikipedia.org)
The saccule, like the utricle, provides information to the brain about head position when it is not moving. (wikipedia.org)

reason
For this reason, the saccule is sometimes called an "otolithic organ. (wikipedia.org)