Our ears balance our body
Two structures of the inner ear help to maintain balance and equilibrium -
The semicircular canals and the vestibule of the inner ear together help to maintain the balance and equilibrium of the body.
How do the semicircular canals detect signals?
The semicircular canals are filled with a fluid called the endolymph. Each one of the semicircular canals has an enlarged cuplike structure called the cupula.The cupulahas thin hair cells.
Whenever the head moves, the fluid in the canals move. When the fluid in the canals moves, the hair cells move in the direction of the fluid and generate signals that detect the changes in the position of the body.
How does the vestibule detect signals?
The utricle and the saccule inside the vestibule are lined by hair cells that help to detect linear acceleration or movement of the body in a straight line.
The utricle and saccule are covered by a jelly-like layer that has tiny calcium crystals. When the head tilts or changes in position with respect to gravity, the calcium crystals are displaced, and this displacement makes the hair cells bend and detect signals regarding the changes in the position of the body.
The signals that are detected by the hair cells of both the semicircular canals and the vestibule are converted into nerve impulses and sent to the brain through the vestibular nerve. The brain also receives signals from the visual and skeletal system of the body.
The brain coordinates all three signals from the inner ear, visual system and skeletal system to maintain balance and equilibrium of the body.