| Utricle | |
|---|---|
Components of the inner ear including the utricle | |
| Details | |
| Part of | Inner ear of vertebrates |
| System | Balance |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | utriculus |
| TA98 | A15.3.03.063 |
| TA2 | 6999 |
| FMA | 61113 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
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The utricle and saccule are the two otolith organs in the vertebrate inner ear. The word utricle comes from Latin uter 'leather bag'. The utricle and saccule are part of the balancing system (membranous labyrinth) in the vestibule of the bony labyrinth (small oval chamber).[1] They use small stones and a viscous fluid to stimulate hair cells to detect motion and orientation. The utricle detects linear accelerations and head-tilts in the horizontal plane.
- ^ Moores, Keith L. "Essential Clinical Anatomy" Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Second Edition (2002).