Textbook Question
Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.
d. The cochlear duct is filled with perilymph.
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Ch. 15 The Special Senses
Chapter 15, Problem 15.15a
How do the hair cells of the crista ampullaris detect rotation of the head?
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The crista ampullaris is located in the ampulla of each semicircular canal in the inner ear and is responsible for detecting rotational movements of the head.
Each crista ampullaris contains hair cells, which are sensory receptors with hair-like extensions called stereocilia and a single kinocilium.
When the head rotates, the endolymph fluid within the semicircular canals lags behind due to inertia, causing it to flow in the opposite direction of the head movement.
This fluid movement bends the stereocilia and kinocilium of the hair cells in the crista ampullaris.
The bending of these hair cells leads to either depolarization or hyperpolarization, depending on the direction of the bend, which then sends signals to the brain to interpret the direction and speed of the head's rotation.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Crista Ampullaris
The crista ampullaris is a sensory structure located within the semicircular canals of the inner ear. It contains hair cells that are crucial for detecting angular motion or rotation of the head. When the head rotates, the endolymph fluid within the canals moves, causing the hair cells to bend and generate nerve impulses that inform the brain about the direction and speed of the rotation.
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Hair Cells
Hair cells are specialized sensory cells found in the inner ear that play a vital role in the auditory and vestibular systems. They have hair-like projections called stereocilia that respond to mechanical stimuli. In the context of the crista ampullaris, the bending of these stereocilia due to fluid movement leads to the depolarization of the hair cells, resulting in the transmission of signals to the brain regarding head movement.
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Vestibular System
The vestibular system is a complex structure in the inner ear responsible for maintaining balance and spatial orientation. It includes the semicircular canals, which detect rotational movements, and the otolith organs, which sense linear accelerations. The information processed by the vestibular system is essential for coordinating balance and eye movements, allowing the body to respond appropriately to changes in position.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.
f. The spiral organ is located in the scala tympani.
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Textbook Question
Explain how sounds of different frequencies are detected in the cochlea.
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Textbook Question
The macula in the utricle detects:
a. rotation of the head to the right.
b. very low-frequency sound waves that we can feel but not hear.
c. tilting of the head to one side.
d. linear acceleration of the head in a vertical plane.
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Textbook Question
Fill in the blanks: The spiral organ sits on the________membrane, and the stereocilia of the outer hair cells contact the _____membrane.
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Textbook Question
True or false: Hair cells in the spiral organ will depolarize or hyperpolarize, depending on the direction in which the stereocilia are bent.
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