The ampulla is a dilatation located at one end of the semicircular canal. It contains a ridge known as crista, or ampullary crest, which houses hair cells.
Ampulla in Ear – Location and Structure
The otolith organ and three semicircular canals make up the vestibular apparatus of the human ear. Each of the semicircular canals has two ends. One end is larger, while the other end is narrow. Its enlarged end is known as an ampulla. The crista ampullaris, a receptor organ for semicircular canals, is found in the ampulla. The crista ampullaris is a cone-shaped structure made up of many hair cells and a thick cap of gelatin called a cupula.
The utricle is directly accessible through the ampulla of all three canals and by the narrow end of the horizontal canal. The common crus is formed when the constrictive ends of the posterior and anterior canals open into the utricle together. The utricle opens into the saccule.
Ampulla in Ear – Function
The ampulla contains a mound of supporting cells and hair cells known as the crista ampullaris. They are the sensory organs of rotation. They are located in the ampullae of each of the inner ear’s semicircular canals, making a total of three pairs. The crista ampullaris is responsible for detecting angular deceleration and acceleration. The endolymph inside the semicircular duct deflects the cupula against the hair cells of the crista ampullaris in response to angular acceleration (rotation). As a result, the neurons that innervate the hair cells are stimulated in response.
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