Final answer:
The inability to detect rotational acceleration is caused by damage to the semicircular canals, not the saccule. The semicircular canals are specifically responsible for sensing angular and rotational movements, while the saccule and utricle detect linear accelerations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the inability to detect rotational acceleration occurs when the saccule is damaged is False.
It is the semicircular canals that are responsible for detecting angular and rotational acceleration, not the saccule. The saccule, together with the utricle, is primarily responsible for detecting linear accelerations such as gravity. Damage to the saccule would affect the sense of linear movement and position relative to gravity, but not rotational acceleration.
Semicircular canals contain fluid and hair cells with stereocilia embedded in a gelatinous cap called the cupula. When rotational movements occur, the fluid moves, bending the stereocilia, and sending signals to the brain to detect angular acceleration or deceleration. Damage to these canals, not the saccule, would lead to an inability to sense rotational movements.