What is the Difference Between Utricle and Saccule?

The utricle and saccule are two otolith organs in the vestibular system of the inner ear that detect linear accelerations and head tilts. They are located between the semicircular ducts and the cochlea. The main differences between the utricle and saccule are:

• Orientation and Detection: The utricle lies horizontally and detects motion in the horizontal plane, while the saccule is oriented vertically and detects motion in the sagittal plane (up and down, forward and backward).
• Size: The utricle is larger than the saccule.
• Location: The utricle is situated at the top of the labyrinth, while the saccule is situated at the bottom.
• Macula: The macula of the utricle is present on the floor of the utricle, while the macula of the saccule is present on the anterior wall.

Both of these organs contain a sensory epithelium, the macula, which consists of hair cells and associated supporting cells. They are connected to the brain or central nervous system through nerves, with efferent nerves providing nerve impulses from the brain and afferent nerves taking messages from the utricle and saccule to the brain.

Comparative Table: Utricle vs Saccule

The utricle and saccule are two otolith organs in the vestibular system of the inner ear, which are involved in perceiving linear acceleration. They are both saclike structures and possess a sensory epithelium containing hair cells and associated supporting cells. Here is a table summarizing the differences between the utricle and saccule:

While both the utricle and saccule have similar functions, they are neither attached nor have physical contact with each other.