Last edited: 9/3/2021

8. VESTIBULE: MACULAE - UTRICLE AND SACCULE

Vestibule | Maculae: Utricle & Saccule Medical Editor: Dr. Sofia Suhada M. Uzir

OUTLINE (A) ANATOMY OF MACULA

The maculae consist of:
I) ANATOMY OF THE INNER EAR o Supporting cells at the bottom
II) MACULA
o Hair cells type I and II
III) UTRICLE
o Vestibular dark cells
IV) SACCULE
V) REVIEW QUESTIONS  Functions similar to striae vascularis
VI) REFERENCES  Secrete potassium into the endolymph
o Otolithic membrane
I) ANATOMY OF THE INNER EAR  Gelatinous membrane rich in
mucopolysaccharides
The inner ear consists of (Figure 1)  Contains calcium carbonate crystals called
Cochlea otoconia/otoliths
Vestibule • They have high specific gravity than the
endolymph in the vestibule
(i) Outer bony part
• Hence, they shift a lot due to movements
o Composed of perilymph which is rich in sodium and which include vertical and horizontal linear
low in potassium accelerations and head tilting
 Very similar to the composition of cerebrospinal
fluid

(ii) Inner membranous labyrinth

o Inside of the bony labyrinth
o Consist of
 Utricle connecting to the semicircular ducts
 Saccule connecting to the cochlear duct
o Contains endolymph which is high in potassium and
low in sodium

(iii) Maculae
o Special detector/sensory epithelium inside the inner
membranous labyrinth
Semicircular canals
o Semicircular ducts with the crista ampullaris

Figure 2. Anatomy of macula [Pearson Education]

(B) THE HAIR CELL

(1) Types of hair cells (Figure 3)

(i) Type I
More bulbous towards the basolateral membrane
Have afferent neurons that are more calyx like

(ii) Type II
More cylindrical towards the basolateral membrane
Have afferent neurons that are more boton/bulbous like
(like in the nerve terminal)

Figure 1. Anatomy inner ear [BruceBlaus]

II) MACULA
Situated in the saccule and utricle
Surrounded by endolymph which is rich in potassium
(maintained by the vestibular dark cells) and low in
sodium
Figure 3. Hair cells [K. Sembulingam]

VESTIBULE: MACULAE - UTRICLE AND SACCULE SPECIAL SENSES: Note #8. 1 of 4

 III) UTRICLE
(2) Parts of the hair cells Situated on the floor of the utricle is a specialized
The hair cells contain cilia on the apical surface which epithelium called the maculae
consist of o The hair cells (stereocilia) are pointing upwards
o Kinocilium The utricle responds to different types of
 A true cilium equilibriums/movements such as:
 The longest cilium
o Stereocilia (1) Linear acceleration in the horizontal axis
 Microvilli Generally, during a constant acceleration, action
It is connected to the peripheral processes of the potentials stay constant
vestibular ganglia Example:
o The central processes goes into the central nervous o With the head in stationary position→ otoconia aren’t
system moving → the action potential stays constant
o Vestibular ganglion is also known as Scarpa’s ganglia If the otoconia pulls the otolithic membrane forward →
stereocilia beat towards the kinocilium → potassium
Remember: channel opens and potassium and calcium enter the cell
The cochlea contains the spiral ganglia → increase the action potential sent down to the axons
by the structure → the cell is stimulated
Example:
(3) Mechanism of action of the hair cells (Figure 3)
o Stopping the car suddenly with the head moving
Movements of the head either by head tilting and forward → high amount of action potential sent
horizontal and vertical linear accelerations may either down to the axons by the structure
cause stereocilia to

(i) Beat towards the kinocilium

This stretches the tips length → opens up the channels →
potassium and calcium ions move into the cells →
accumulate inside the cell → the cell becomes positive →
causes the cell to depolarize → calcium helps in fusing
the synaptic protein between the vesicle and the cell
membrane → fusion release neurotransmitters out by
exocytosis, these include aspartate and glutamate → will
increase the action potentials

(ii) Beat away from the kinocilium

The tips length relaxes→ closes the channels → no
potassium and calcium ions will move into the cells → the Figure 5. Linear acceleration on the horizontal axis
cell becomes slightly negative/hyperpolarize → fusion of [Oregon State University]
the vesicle with the cell membrane will not take place →
no neurotransmitters will be released → there will be no
If the otoconia pulls the otolithic membrane backwards
the action potentials
→ stereocilia moves away from the kinocilium →
decrease the amount of action potential sent down
Example:
o Accelerate the car suddenly with the head moves
backwards → otoconia pulls the otolithic membrane
backwards → stereocilia moves away from the
kinocilium → little or no action potential will be sent
down the axons

Note:
Not all the hair cells will be stimulated at the same time. It
Figure 4. Mechanism of action of hair cells [Britannica]
depends on the direction of which the stereocilia are moving
o Moving towards the kinocilium stimulate the hair cells
o Hence, depending on the direction of movement, some
of the stereocilia might move towards the kinocilium but
some might not

(2) Head tilt

Tilting the head to the sides/nodding will stimulate the
stereocilia
When the head moves sideways, the otoconia pulls the
otolithic membrane → stereocilia moves towards the
kinocilium → the action potential increase
When the head moves back to the middle the otoconia
pulls the otolithic membrane in the opposite direction →
stereocilia moves away from the kinocilium → the action
potential decrease

2 of 4 SPECIAL SENSES: Note #8. VESTIBULE: MACULAE - UTRICLE AND SACCULE

 IV) SACCULE

Situated on the wall of the saccule is the sensory

epithelium called the maculae
o The hair cells (stereocilia) are pointing outwards
(Figure 5)
The saccule responds to:
(1) Vertical linear acceleration
Accelerating upwards move stereocilia down, and
decelerating downwards move the stereocilia up
Example:
o Standing in the elevator and it suddenly goes up →
the gravitational forces will pull the otoconia down →
the otolithic membrane moves downward → if the
stereocilia beats toward the kinocilium → the action
potential will increase
o Standing in the elevator and it suddenly goes down →
due to the drag forces, the otoconia will move upward
and pulls the otolithic membrane with it → if the
stereocilia beats away from the kinocilium → the
action potential will decrease
(2) Low frequency vibrations
Not as important as the response to the vertical linear
acceleration

Figure 6. The saccule which is stimulated when tilting the head

[Health Jade]

VESTIBULE: MACULAE - UTRICLE AND SACCULE SPECIAL SENSES: Note #8. 3 of 4

 V) REVIEW QUESTIONS Which sensory receptor is most sensitive to
angular acceleration?
Otoliths are normally located in: a. Crista
a. The ampulla of semicircular canal b. Utricle
b. The utricle c. Saccule
c. The modiolus d. Organ of Corti
d. The cochlea

Vestibular apparatus: CHECK YOUR ANSWERS

a. Represent the auditory part of the labyrinth
b. May help in initiating the voluntary movements
c. Contains receptors concerned with regulation of
body posture and equilibrium
d. Has no role in perception of acceleration
Vestibular apparatus:
a. Consists of semicircular canals only
b. Contains two types of sensory organs, crista and
macula that discharges impulses along the 8th and
9th cranial nerves
c. Located inside the petrous portion of temporal bone
d. Can discharge impulses that affect muscle tone in
distal muscles of the limbs only
The semi-circular canals:
a. 3 pairs on each side
b. Detect the angular acceleration
c. Contains fluid rich in Na+ ions
d. Its receptors show depolarization when Na+ influx in
the apical border of its hair cells
VI) REFERENCES
● Sembulingam K , Sembulingam Prema; Essentials of
Physiology for Dental Students. Hair Cells [digital image] 2016.
https://www.jaypeedigital.com/book/9789385999468/chapter/ch104
● Blausen.com staff (2014). Medical gallery of Blausen Medical
2014. Anatomy of Inner Ear [digital image]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner_ear#/media/File:Blausen_0329_E
arAnatomy_InternalEar.png
● Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc,. Mechanism of Actions of Hair
Cells [digital image] 1997.
https://www.britannica.com/science/macula
● Oregnon State University. The Vestibular System. Linear
acceleration of horizontal axis [digital image]
https://open.oregonstate.education/aandp/chapter/15-4-equilibrium/
● Pearsons Education 2012. Anatomy of macculea [digital image]
https://slideplayer.com/slide/8429493/
● Health Jade. The saccule [digital image]
https://healthjade.net/vestibular-system/
● CNS mcq exam [quiz]
http://www1.mans.edu.eg/facmed/dept/physiology/pdf/cns%202nd%
20term.pdf

The hair cells in the vestibular receptors organs:

a. Only stimulated during acceleration
b. Show hyper-polarization when stereocilia deviated
towards kinocilium
c. Show depolarization when stereocilia deviated
towards kinocilium
d. Show depolarization when stereocilia deviated away
kinocilium

Endolymph:
a. It is found within the membranous labyrinth
b. Has a K+ concentration closes to that of the extra-
cellular fluid
c. Is electrically negative with respect to the perilymph.
d. Inertia has no role in the stimulation of receptors in
the semicircular canals during rotation

All of the following statements about the vestibular

apparatus is true except:
a. It consists of semicircular canals and two small sacs,
utricle and saccule
b. The semicircular canals contain sensory organs
called crista
c. The utricle and saccule are concerned with
perception of linear acceleration
d. Concerned with regulation of muscle tone during
performance of fine skilled movement

The central connection of the vestibular apparatus

includes all of the following except:
a. Cerebellum
b. Reticular formation
c. Medial longitudinal bundle on both sides
d. Limbic cortex

Linear acceleration is transduced in the:

a. Cupula
b. Cristae
c. Maculae
d. Organ of Corti
e. Scarpa's ganglion

4 of 4 SPECIAL SENSES: Note #8. VESTIBULE: MACULAE - UTRICLE AND SACCULE