Otolith organs sense what?

Otolith organs sense what?

• A. Change in direction only
• B. Change in speed without a change in direction
• C. Rotational acceleration
• D. Auditory cues

Answer: (B)

Otolith organs detect linear acceleration and head position relative to gravity. They contain hair cells in a membrane with tiny crystals (otoliths) that shift when the head tilts or when the body accelerates in a straight line. This shifting deflects the hair cells and alters their signaling to the brain, signaling changes in velocity along a straight path or a change in orientation to gravity. This is different from rotational acceleration, which is detected by the semicircular canals via fluid movement. Auditory cues come from the cochlea, not the otolith organs. So the otoliths best convey changes in speed along a straight line, making the correct sense the change in speed without a change in direction.

Otolith organs detect linear acceleration and head position relative to gravity. They contain hair cells in a membrane with tiny crystals (otoliths) that shift when the head tilts or when the body accelerates in a straight line. This shifting deflects the hair cells and alters their signaling to the brain, signaling changes in velocity along a straight path or a change in orientation to gravity. This is different from rotational acceleration, which is detected by the semicircular canals via fluid movement. Auditory cues come from the cochlea, not the otolith organs. So the otoliths best convey changes in speed along a straight line, making the correct sense the change in speed without a change in direction.