Final answer:
The vestibule contains the maculae responsible for detecting movement in the vertical plane. The vestibule's maculae use hair cells in an otolithic membrane to send signals about head position and movement to the brain for balance and spatial orientation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The vestibule contains vertically arranged maculae that provide feedback of body movement in the vertical plane. The correct answer to the question is b) Vestibule.
The vestibule is an integral part of the inner ear's vestibular system, which is responsible for detecting changes in head position and movement in space, assisting with balance and spatial orientation. The maculae in the utricle and saccule of the vestibule play a key role in this process. The maculae contain hair cells whose stereocilia extend into an otolithic membrane covered with tiny calcium carbonate crystals called otoliths. These crystals add weight to the membrane, which helps it respond to gravity. When the head tilts, movement of the otolithic membrane relative to the maculae causes the stereocilia to bend, triggering a change in the hair cells' voltage, and therefore sending signals to the brain for interpretation.
The semicircular canals are responsible for detecting rotational movement, such as turning the head, and not the straight-line vertical movement that the maculae detect. The vestibular system, which comprises of both the vestibule and semicircular canals, provides crucial feedback for maintaining balance and orientation.