Utricles

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Referring to small, bag-like structures in the inner ear responsible for detecting changes in head position and linear acceleration
2. Denoting minimal oval sacs located within the vestibular system that facilitate balance and spatial orientation
3. Characterizing the functions of specific membranous areas in the auditory system that contribute to the sense of equilibrium and motion detection

Etymology: A Latin wineskin lies behind the name of the inner-ear sacs that help you sense which way is up. The Latin "utriculus" was a diminutive of "uter," a leather bag or bottle, so a "utricle" was originally a little bag. Anatomists borrowed the term for small sac-like structures, and the same Latin root gave the English word for a bladder-like cavity in plants. "Utricles" is simply the plural, referring to the paired sacs in the vestibule of each ear. Scholars have suggested that "uter" may be related to "uterus," but that connection is uncertain.