What part of the ear is responsible for the function of balance:
A vestibule
B auricle
C eustachian tube
D mastoid bone
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is A. Vestibule.
The vestibule is a part of the inner ear responsible for maintaining balance and spatial orientation. It contains specialized structures called the semicircular canals, the utricle, and the saccule, which are integral to the balance system. The vestibule detects changes in head position and motion, sending signals to the brain that help the body maintain equilibrium.
The semicircular canals, which are part of the vestibule, are three loop-shaped tubes positioned at right angles to each other. These canals are filled with fluid and contain sensory hair cells that detect rotational movements of the head. When the head moves, the fluid inside the semicircular canals shifts, causing the hair cells to bend. This bending is translated into nerve signals sent to the brain, which processes the information and helps maintain balance.
The utricle and saccule are also part of the vestibule. These structures detect linear movements such as up and down or forward and backward motion. The utricle detects horizontal movements, while the saccule detects vertical movements. Each contains tiny hair cells embedded in a gel-like substance, with small calcium crystals that help the hair cells detect gravity and acceleration.
The signals sent from the vestibule are integrated with information from other sensory systems, such as vision and proprioception (the sense of body position), to provide a comprehensive sense of balance and spatial orientation.
In contrast, the auricle (B) is the outer part of the ear responsible for collecting sound waves, the eustachian tube (C) equalizes pressure in the middle ear, and the mastoid bone (D) is a bone behind the ear that is primarily involved in hearing rather than balance.