What are the tiny calcium carbonate crystals found within the otolith organs called?
Answer
Otoconia (or "ear stones")
The gelatinous layer covering the hair cells within the utricle and saccule is embedded with tiny calcium carbonate crystals known as otoconia, or 'ear stones'.
Related Questions
What proportion of the ear's function is primarily dedicated to maintaining spatial orientation and balance?What two main parts comprise the apparatus responsible for balance, often called the vestibular system?What specific type of movement are the three semicircular canals designed to detect?What causes the sensory receptors in the ampulla of a semicircular canal to generate electrical signals upon head rotation?Which two structures make up the otolith organs responsible for detecting linear movement and gravity?What are the tiny calcium carbonate crystals found within the otolith organs called?Which otolith organ structure is generally more sensitive to vertical movements, like riding in an elevator?Where do the neural impulses generated by the hair cells in the vestibular system primarily travel for initial processing?What three sensory inputs constitute the essential 'triad of balance' that feeds information to the brain?What condition results when dislodged otoconia crystals migrate into one of the semicircular canals?Why is the vestibular system indispensable for dynamic stability during a sudden sharp movement like swerving a car?According to the provided table, what is the sensory mechanism used by the semicircular canals to detect rotation?