Otolith organs vs. semicircular canals
With her eyes closed, an elevator passenger can still sense the elevator starting to accelerate upward. Which structures detect this linear acceleration?
Answer A: explanation for every choice
A
Correct. The otolith organs (utricle and saccule) contain calcium carbonate crystals that shift with linear acceleration and head tilt.
B
The semicircular canals detect rotational (angular) acceleration of the head.
C
The cochlea converts sound vibrations into neural signals for hearing.
D
Muscle spindles detect muscle stretch and contribute to proprioception, not acceleration of the whole body.
TakeawayOtolith organs: linear acceleration and tilt. Semicircular canals: rotation.
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Reviewed 2026-11-05 by a medical student. Spot an error? Report it with question ID ps31.