Vestibular System

Question 1

acceleration

Answer 1

how fast something is changing velocity

Question 2

otolith organs

Answer 2

detecting linear acceleration (body moving forward and head tilt), otolith (small calcium carbonate rock like structures bathed in endolymph) move in the opposite direction of body movement because of inertia with slight delay

Question 3

movement of sterocilia and depolarization

Answer 3

same as auditory system, kinocilium: larger than stereocilia and does not have a channel, helps to move all of the other stereocilia more

Question 4

planes of depolarization

Answer 4

vertical: saccular macula, horizontal: utricular macula, directions for depolarization vary

Question 5

deteting head movement: angular acceleration

Answer 5

semicircular canals detect spinning (turning head or body), cupula contains stereocilia and moves in response to angular movement of body, get opposite reactions from the semicircular canals on either side of the head, decrease response as endolymph catches up and hyperpolarization when we stop because cupula is pushed in the opposite direction

Question 6

path of vestibular information to the brain

Answer 6