How does the ear act as an organ of equilibrium ?

Explanation

1. Balance is part of a sense called proprioception, which is the ability to sense the postion, orientation and movement of the body. The organ of balance is known as the Vestibular system which is located in the inner ear next to the cochlea.
2. The vestibular system is composed of a series of fluid filled sacs and tubules. These sacs and tubules contain endolyph and are kept in the surrounding perilymph.
3. These two fluids, perilymph and endolymph, respond to the mechanical forces, during changes occuring in body position and acceleration.
4. The utricle and saccule are two membraneous sacs, found nearest the cochlea and contain equilibrium receptor region called maculae that are involved in detecting the linear movment of the head. The maculae contain the hair cells that act as mechanorecptors.
5. These hair cells are embeded in a gelantinous otolithic membrane taht contains small calcarecous particles called otoliths. This membrane adds weight to the tope hair cells and increase the inertia.

6. Each ampulla has a sensory area known as crista ampullaris which is formed of sensory hair cells and supporting cells. The function of these cannals is to detect rotational movement of the head.