lateral semicircular canal
Quick Summary
The lateral semicircular canal is one of three loop-shaped organs in the inner ear that are crucial for maintaining balance and stability. These canals, along with the vestibule (containing the utricle and saccule) and the cochlea, form the vestibular system.12
The lateral semicircular canal is oriented at about 30 degrees to the horizontal plane and works with the other two canals (anterior and posterior) to detect rotational and angular movements of the head. Within each canal's expanded end, called the ampulla, is a structure with hair cells. When the head moves, fluid (endolymph) shifts, bending these hair cells and generating electrical signals that are sent to the brain, allowing for coordinated movement and stable vision.13
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
human earSemicircular canals…according to their position: superior, horizontal, and posterior. The superior and posterior canals are in diagonal vertical planes that intersect at right angles. Each canal has an expanded end, the ampulla, which opens into the vestibule. The ampullae of the horizontal and superior canals lie close together, just above the…
Read More…according to their position: superior, horizontal, and posterior. The superior and posterior canals are in diagonal vertical planes that intersect at right angles. Each canal has an expanded end, the ampulla, which opens into the vestibule. The ampullae of the horizontal and superior canals lie close together, just above the…
Read More- vestibular systemSemicircular canals
The ampullae of the horizontal and superior canals lie close together, just above the oval window, but the ampulla of the posterior canal opens on the opposite side of the vestibule. The other ends of the superior and posterior canals join to form a common stem, or crus, which…
Read MoreThe ampullae of the horizontal and superior canals lie close together, just above the oval window, but the ampulla of the posterior canal opens on the opposite side of the vestibule. The other ends of the superior and posterior canals join to form a common stem, or crus, which…
Read More - semicircular canalAnatomy
The lateral semicircular canal, the shortest of the three, is set at an angle of about 30 degrees to the horizontal plane. The anterior and posterior loops are in diagonal vertical planes that intersect at a 90-degree angle.
Read MoreThe lateral semicircular canal, the shortest of the three, is set at an angle of about 30 degrees to the horizontal plane. The anterior and posterior loops are in diagonal vertical planes that intersect at a 90-degree angle.
Read More