Which canals sense angular acceleration?

Which canals sense angular acceleration?

• A. Vestibule
• B. Cochlea
• C. Semicircular
• D. Otolith

Answer: (C)

Angular acceleration is detected by the semicircular canals. When the head starts spinning, the endolymph inside each canal lags behind due to inertia and pushes against the cupula in the ampulla. This deflects the hair cell stereocilia, signaling changes in rotational velocity to the brain. The three canals are oriented in orthogonal planes, so rotation in any direction is detected. The vestibule’s utricle and saccule sense linear acceleration and gravity via otoliths, not angular motion, and the cochlea is for hearing.

Angular acceleration is detected by the semicircular canals. When the head starts spinning, the endolymph inside each canal lags behind due to inertia and pushes against the cupula in the ampulla. This deflects the hair cell stereocilia, signaling changes in rotational velocity to the brain. The three canals are oriented in orthogonal planes, so rotation in any direction is detected. The vestibule’s utricle and saccule sense linear acceleration and gravity via otoliths, not angular motion, and the cochlea is for hearing.