Textbook Question
The spiral organ sits on the ________ membrane, and the stereocilia of the outer hair cells contact the _____ membrane.
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Ch. 15 The Special Senses
Amerman2nd EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136873822
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology26
- Ch. 2 The Chemistry of Life38
- Ch. 3 The Cell55
- Ch. 4 Histology47
- Ch. 5 The Integumentary System30
- Ch. 6 Bones and Bone Tissue36
- Ch. 7 The Skeletal System40
- Ch. 8 Articulations19
- Ch. 9 The Muscular System36
- Ch. 10 Muscle Tissue and Physiology29
- Ch. 11 Introduction to the Nervous System and Nervous Tissue28
- Ch. 12 The Central Nervous System42
- Ch. 13 The Peripheral Nervous System41
- Ch. 14 The Autonomic Nervous System and Homeostasis31
- Ch. 15 The Special Senses39
- Ch. 16 The Endocrine System42
- Ch. 17 The Cardiovascular System I: The Heart30
- Ch. 18 The Cardiovascular System II: The Blood Vessels43
- Ch. 19 Blood32
- Ch. 20 The Lymphatic System and Immunity45
- Ch. 21 The Respiratory System27
- Ch. 22 The Digestive System27
- Ch. 23 Metabolism and Nutrition7
- Ch. 24 The Urinary System39
- Ch. 25 Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Homeostasis39
- Ch. 26 The Reproductive System10
- Ch. 27 Development and Heredity5
Chapter 15, Problem 16
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
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the anatomy of the macula: The macula is a sensory structure located in the utricle and saccule of the vestibular system within the inner ear. It contains hair cells embedded in a gelatinous layer with otoliths (calcium carbonate crystals) on top.
Review the function of the utricle: The utricle is primarily responsible for detecting linear acceleration and head position changes in the horizontal plane, such as forward and backward movements or tilting of the head.
Differentiate between the utricle and saccule: While the utricle detects linear acceleration in the horizontal plane, the saccule detects linear acceleration in the vertical plane, such as movements up and down.
Analyze the options provided: Rotation of the head (option a) is detected by the semicircular canals, not the macula. Very low-frequency sound waves (option b) are related to the cochlea, not the vestibular system. Tilting of the head (option c) is detected by the macula in the utricle, but specifically in the horizontal plane. Linear acceleration in the vertical plane (option d) is detected by the macula in the saccule, not the utricle.
Conclude based on the anatomy and physiology of the vestibular system: The macula in the utricle detects tilting of the head to one side and linear acceleration in the horizontal plane, not vertical plane movements or sound waves.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Utricle Function
The utricle is a part of the vestibular system located in the inner ear, responsible for detecting linear accelerations and head tilts. It contains sensory hair cells embedded in a gelatinous structure called the otolithic membrane, which responds to gravitational forces and changes in head position.
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Functional Groups
Linear Acceleration
Linear acceleration refers to the rate of change of velocity in a straight line. In the context of the utricle, it specifically relates to how the head moves in a vertical or horizontal plane, allowing the body to maintain balance and spatial orientation.
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Vestibular System
The vestibular system is a sensory system that contributes to balance and spatial orientation. It includes structures such as the utricle, saccule, and semicircular canals, which work together to detect motion, head position, and changes in equilibrium, providing critical information for coordination and balance.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
How do the hair cells of the crista ampullaris detect rotation of the head?
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Textbook Question
Mark 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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Textbook Question
Which of the following is not part of the auditory pathway in the CNS?
a. Superior temporal lobe
b. Superior colliculus
c. Medial geniculate nucleus
d. Nuclei in the pons
e. Cochlear nuclei
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Textbook Question
Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.
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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