Otolith organs (sacs) - utricle & saccule - Macula

4 important questions on Otolith organs (sacs) - utricle & saccule - Macula

What movement do Maculae in the utricle respond to?

horizontal movements and tilting head side to side

What movement do Maculae in saccule respond to

vertical movements

The macula is made up of what specific cellular components and structures?

The macula is made up of the supporting cells + hair cells + kinocilia and the stereocilia that protrude into the otolithic membrane.
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List the 5 steps in which the macula works to send static equilibrium signals to the brain?

  1. Hair cells of the macula are always releasing glutamate neurotransmitters
  2. Movement in vertical or horizontal moves changes the position of otolithic membrane in response
  3. Bends stereocilia and if its in the direction of kinocilia = Depol of hair cells
  4. Increases amount of neurotransmitter release
  5. More impulses travel up vestibular nerve to brain

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