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What are the otoliths made of?
The otoconia are made of calcium carbonate (CaCo3) combined with a protein matrix protein (about 40% of the volume). Calcium carbonate is also a constituent of “limestone”, so otoconia are essentially a mixture of stone and a protein – -something like concrete with straw mixed in. They have a hexagonal symmetry.
What is the otolith organ filled with?
fluid
The semicircular canals and the otolith organs are filled with fluid. Each of the semicircular canals end in a space that has small hair cells in it.
What is the main function of otolith?
The otoliths are biomineralized ear stones that contribute to both hearing and vestibular function in fish. In response to sound or movement, the inertia of the otolith relative to the body tissue of the fish creates a shearing force on the underlying sensory epithelium, resulting in hair cell activation or inhibition.
Is otolith a mineral?
Otoliths are bioinorganic minerals within the inner ear of all bony fishes. They grow incrementally, laying down alternating protein-rich and mineral-rich bands daily.
Are otoliths ivory?
Otolith definition These pearly white stones are about the size of a pea, and can be found in the fish’s skull just below the rear of the brain.
What is otolith stimulation?
Natural Stimulation of the Otoliths. The responses to natural (or electrical) otolithic stimulation consist of eye movements, postural changes, and sensations.
What equilibrium relies on otoliths?
equilibrium role Motions of the head cause the otoliths to pull on the hair cells, stimulating another auditory nerve branch, the vestibular nerve, which signals the position of the head with respect to the rest of the body.
What are the two otolith organs?
Displacements and linear accelerations of the head, such as those induced by tilting or translational movements (see Box A), are detected by the two otolith organs: the sacculus and the utricle. Both of these organs contain a sensory epithelium, the macula, which consists of hair cells and associated supporting cells.
Where are the otoliths?
the inner ear
Description. Endolymphatic infillings such as otoliths are structures in the saccule and utricle of the inner ear, specifically in the vestibular labyrinth of all vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds). In vertebrates, the saccule and utricle together make the otolith organs.
Where are otoliths located?
inner ear
Otoliths are calcareous accretions found within paired otolithic organs (the sacule, lagena, and utricle) that, together with the semicircular canals, make up the inner ear of teleost fishes.
Are otoliths crystals?
Otoliths (also called statoliths) are agglutinated crystals or crystals precipitated around a nucleus, with well defined morphology and together all may be termed endolymphatic infillings.