Final answer:
The vestibular sense organ, located in the inner ear, is crucial for balance and spatial orientation, comprising the utricle, saccule, and semicircular canals. It works by responding to head tilts and rotations, where hair cells transmit signals to the brain. The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) helps stabilize vision during movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Vestibular Sense Organ and Its Function
The vestibular sense organ is a component of the inner ear that is essential for our sense of balance and spatial orientation. It comprises five parts: the utricle, saccule, and three semicircular canals. Both the utricle and saccule contain calcium carbonate crystals that shift when the head is tilted, activating the stereocilia of hair cells. When the head turns, the fluid in the semicircular canals bends the stereocilia, sending signals to the brain to maintain balance.
Structure and Working of the Vestibular System
The utricle and saccule are sensitive to linear movements and gravity, while the semicircular canals respond to rotational movements. Approximately 30,000 hair cells in the utricle and 16,000 in the saccule transmit information to the brain via the vestibular branch of the vestibulocochlear cranial nerve.
The Vestibulo-ocular Reflex (VOR)
The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is a mechanism that stabilizes images on the retina during head and body movements. Connections between the vestibular system and the cranial nerves of eye movements ensure that our vision remains clear even as we move. For example, while spinning, the VOR allows us to maintain focus on a fixed point despite the rapid rotation of the head.