Which one of the following is the correct pair of structure and function for the indicated structure of the inner ear

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The saccule senses vertical linear acceleration, so the correct pair is saccule — vertical acceleration.

Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- The vestibular apparatus contains two otolith organs (utricle and saccule) and three semicircular canals.
- Utricle and saccule (maculae with otoconia) detect linear acceleration and head tilt; semicircular canals detect angular (rotational) acceleration.
- Orientation matters: the utricular macula is roughly horizontal (sensitive to horizontal/linear acceleration and head tilt in the horizontal plane), while the saccular macula is oriented vertically (sensitive to vertical linear acceleration).

Step-by-step reasoning
1. Identify the indicated structure in the diagram: the red arrow points to the small sac-like otolith organ located adjacent to the cochlea and inferior/medial relative to the larger utricle and the semicircular canals. This anatomical position corresponds to the saccule.
2. Recall function by orientation: the saccule’s macula is vertically oriented so gravity and vertical linear movements (e.g., elevator up-down, jumping) shift the otoconia and bend hair cells, producing signals about vertical acceleration.
3. Contrast with the utricle: the utricle lies more laterally and its macula is horizontal, so it responds primarily to horizontal linear acceleration and head tilt in the horizontal plane.
4. Semicircular canals sense angular acceleration (head rotation) via endolymph movement and cupula deflection, not linear shifts of otoconia.

Why the correct answer is correct
- The labeled structure’s position and shape match the saccule, and the saccule’s vertically oriented macula specifically encodes vertical linear acceleration.

Why the other options are incorrect
- b (utricle, vertical): utricle detects horizontal, not vertical, acceleration.
- c (saccule, horizontal): saccule detects vertical, not horizontal acceleration.
- d (utricle, horizontal): function matches utricle but the diagram points to the saccule, not the utricle.
- e (saccule, angular): angular acceleration is sensed by semicircular canals, not the saccule.

Conclusion
These anatomical and functional points confirm option a: saccule, vertical acceleration.

Which one of the following is the correct pair of structure and function for the indicated structure of the inner earSingle choice

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