Question

Maculae are present in
A. Semicircular canals
B. Utriculus and lagena
C. Utriculus
D. Utriculus and sacculus

Answer 1

Hint: Crista and macula are the specific receptors of the vestibular apparatus. These two structures are responsible for maintenance of balance of the body and posture. The inner ear contains a complex system that is known as vestibular apparatus. It is present above the cochlea.

Complete answer:
The otolith organ consists of two structures: saccule and the utricle. The saccule and utricle lie just below the three semicircular canals. The saccule and utricle contain a projecting ridge like the ampullae of semicircular canals. The projecting ridge of the saccule and utricle is called macula.
Now let us match this with the given options:-
Semicircular canals :- each ear in a human body contains three – semicircular canals. These canals are C-shaped structures. They are filled with fluid. They contain the receptory structure that is known as crista and not macula.
Utriculus and lagena :- lagena is usually defined as the extensions of saccule. Macula is not the extensions but the projecting ridges of saccule. Lagena can be used as another name for macula.
Utriculus :- the macula is usually defined as the projecting ridge of saccule and utricle. The utricle does not individually contain macula but it contains macula in association with the saccule.
Utriculus and sacculus :- these both the structures are the part of the otolith organ. The projecting ridge of the saccule and utricle is called macula. The macula contains a gelatinous layer, tuft of hair, hair cells, supporting cells and most important nerve fibre.

Our required option is D) that is Utriculus and sacculus.

Note: The macula present in both saccule and utricle acts as the specific sensory receptor for sensing the changes in the position of head in relation to the force of gravity. The macula also contains the hair cells whose basal ends are in close association with the afferent nerve fibres of the vestibular branch of the auditory nerve. The otolith organ maintains the static balance of the body.