Mechanisms of Equilibrium

The equilibrium receptors of the inner ear, collectively called the vestibular apparatus, can be
divided into two functional arms- one arm responsible for monitoring static equilibrium and the
other involved with dynamic equilibrium.

Static Equilibrium
Within the membrane sacs of the vestibule are receptors called maculae that are essential to our
sense of static equilibrium.

• Maculae. The maculae report on changes in the position of the head in space with respect to
the pull of gravity when the body is not moving.

• Otolithic hair membrane. Each macula is a patch of receptor (hair) cells with their “hairs”
embedded in the otolithic hair membrane, a jelly-like mass studded with otoliths, tiny stones
made of calcium salts.

• Otoliths. As the head moves, the otoliths roll in response to changes in the pull of gravity; this
movement creates a pull on the gel, which in turn slides like a greased plate over the hair cells,
bending their hairs.
Vestibular nerve. This event activates the hair cells, which send impulses along the vestibular
nerve (a division of cranial nerve VIII) to the cerebellum of the brain, informing it of the position
of the head in space.

• Taste buds. The taste buds, or specific receptors for the sense of taste, are widely scattered in
the oral cavity; of the 10, 000 or so taste buds we have, most are on the tongue.

• Papillae. The dorsal tongue surface is covered with small peg-like projections, or papillae.

• Circumvallate and fungiform papillae. The taste buds are found on the sides of the large
round circumvallate papillae and on the tops of the more numerous fungiform papillae.

• Gustatory cells. The specific cells that respond to chemicals dissolved in the saliva are
epithelial cells called gustatory cells.

• Gustatory hairs. Their long microvilli- the gustatory hairs- protrude through the taste pore,
and when they are stimulated, they depolarize and impulses are transmitted to the brain.

• Facial nerve. The facial nerve (VII) serves the anterior part of the tongue.

• Glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves.

The other two cranial nerves- the glossopharyngeal and vagus- serve the other taste bud-
containing areas.
• Basal cells. Taste bud cells are among the most dynamic cells in the body, and they are
replaced every seven to ten days by basal cells found in the deeper regions of the taste buds.