PSYC 212 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Semicircular Canals, Vestibular Nerve, Angular Acceleration

• School: McGill University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 212
• Professor: Mathieu Roy

Document Summary

Vestibular system can act as a sixth sense. In the ampullae are hair cells, which are stuck in a cupulae membrane: hair cells in the cochlea are located in the utricle and saccule and ampulla are located at the basis of the semicircular canal. In the utricle and saccule, the sensory epithelium or macula, consists of hair cells and associated supporting cells: overlaying the hair cells is a gelatinous layer, above this layer is a fibrous membrane called the otolithic membrane. Inner and outer hair cells provide the foundations for minuscule hair like bristles called stereocilia (singular stereocilium). On an inner hair cell, stereocilia are arranged as if posing for a group photo, in several nearly straight rows with the shorter stereocilia in front and the taller ones peering over their shoulders in the back. If there"s constant velocity then the otolith organs stop responding.