U.S. National Library of Medicine

1. Hair Cells, Vestibular

   Sensory cells in the acoustic maculae with their apical stereocilia embedded in a gelatinous OTOLITHIC MEMBRANE. These hair cells are stimulated by the movement of otolithic membrane, and impulses are transmitted via the VESTIBULAR NERVE to the BRAIN STEM. Hair cells in the saccule and those in the utricle sense linear acceleration in vertical and horizontal directions, respectively.