Name the three semicircular canals responsible for detecting angular acceleration.

Name the three semicircular canals responsible for detecting angular acceleration.

• A. Cochlea, Vestibule, Utricle.
• B. Ossicles: Malleus, Incus, Stapes.
• C. Anterior (superior), posterior, and horizontal (lateral) semicircular canals.
• D. Tympanic membrane.

Answer: (C)

Angular acceleration is detected by the three semicircular canals, each oriented in a different plane so they can sense rotation in any direction. Inside each canal is endolymph fluid; when you start or stop turning, the fluid lags due to inertia and pushes against the cupula in the ampulla, bending the hair cells and triggering signals to the brain. The three canals correspond to rotations around three axes: the anterior (superior) canal detects pitch, the posterior canal detects roll, and the horizontal (lateral) canal detects yaw. Because together they form a three-dimensional sensor, they can detect angular changes from any direction. Other inner ear structures like the cochlea, vestibule, or utricle handle hearing or linear acceleration, not angular acceleration, and the tiny ear bones and tympanic membrane relate to sound transmission rather than rotation sensing.

Angular acceleration is detected by the three semicircular canals, each oriented in a different plane so they can sense rotation in any direction. Inside each canal is endolymph fluid; when you start or stop turning, the fluid lags due to inertia and pushes against the cupula in the ampulla, bending the hair cells and triggering signals to the brain. The three canals correspond to rotations around three axes: the anterior (superior) canal detects pitch, the posterior canal detects roll, and the horizontal (lateral) canal detects yaw. Because together they form a three-dimensional sensor, they can detect angular changes from any direction. Other inner ear structures like the cochlea, vestibule, or utricle handle hearing or linear acceleration, not angular acceleration, and the tiny ear bones and tympanic membrane relate to sound transmission rather than rotation sensing.