Final answer:
The receptors for static equilibrium are located in the maculae of the utricle and saccule, which are structures in the inner ear that sense the head's position and linear movements to maintain balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The receptors for static equilibrium are found in the maculae of the utricle and saccule. These structures detect the position of the head in space, thereby aiding in the maintenance of balance. The utricle and saccule are both composed of macula tissue. Embedded in the otolithic membrane that covers the hair cells in the maculae are otoliths — calcium carbonate crystals.
These otoliths make the membrane top-heavy, and when the head tilts or starts moving in a straight line, gravity causes the otoliths and the overlying membrane to shift, bending the stereocilia of the hair cells and causing them to depolarize or hyperpolarize. This sends a signal to the brain, interpreted as the head's exact position or change in linear acceleration.