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ampulla of semicircular canal

anatomy

Quick Summary

The ampulla of the semicircular canal is an expanded end of one of the three loop-shaped tubes within the inner ear. These canals, positioned at right angles to each other, are crucial for maintaining balance by detecting rotational movements of the head. The ampulla houses a sensory organ called the crista, which contains hair cells. A gelatinous structure, the cupula, extends from the crista. When the head rotates, the fluid within the canal (endolymph) shifts, causing the cupula to bend. This bending stimulates the hair cells, which then send nerve impulses via the vestibulocochlear nerve to the brain, allowing for the detection of angular acceleration.1234

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