Preferred Label : posterior semicircular duct;
Uberon definition : The semicircular canals are three half-circular, interconnected tubes located inside
each ear. The three canals are the horizontal semicircular canal (also known as the
lateral semicircular canal), superior semicircular canal (also known as the anterior
semicircular canal), and the posterior semicircular canal. The canals are aligned
approximately orthogonally to one another. The horizontal canal is aligned roughly
horizontally in the head. The superior and anterior canals are aligned roughly at
a 45 degree angle to a vertical plane drawn from the nose to the back of the skull.
Thus, the horizontal canal detects horizontal head movements (such as when doing a
pirouette), while the superior and posterior canals detect vertical head movements.
Each canal is filled with a fluid called endolymph and contains a motion sensor with
little hairs whose ends are embedded in a gelatinous structure called the cupula.
As the skull twists in any direction, the endolymph is thrown into different sections
of the canals. The cilia detect when the endolymph rushes past, and a signal is then
sent to the brain. The semicircular canals are a component of the Labyrinth. Among
species of mammals, the size of the semicircular canals is correlated with their type
of locomotion. Specifically, species that are agile and have fast, jerky locomotion
have larger canals relative to their body size than those that move more cautiously.;
Uberon Function note : detect vertical head movements;
Uberon Homology note : Vertebrata is characterized by three synapomorphies. (...) Vertebrates also have at
least two vertical semicircular ducts (...). In gnathostomes, each membranous labyrinth
has three semicircular ducts that connect with a chamber known as the utriculus.[well
established][VHOG];
Origin ID : 0001858;
Automatic exact mappings (from CISMeF team)
- Uberon cross reference
- has part
- part of
The semicircular canals are three half-circular, interconnected tubes located inside
each ear. The three canals are the horizontal semicircular canal (also known as the
lateral semicircular canal), superior semicircular canal (also known as the anterior
semicircular canal), and the posterior semicircular canal. The canals are aligned
approximately orthogonally to one another. The horizontal canal is aligned roughly
horizontally in the head. The superior and anterior canals are aligned roughly at
a 45 degree angle to a vertical plane drawn from the nose to the back of the skull.
Thus, the horizontal canal detects horizontal head movements (such as when doing a
pirouette), while the superior and posterior canals detect vertical head movements.
Each canal is filled with a fluid called endolymph and contains a motion sensor with
little hairs whose ends are embedded in a gelatinous structure called the cupula.
As the skull twists in any direction, the endolymph is thrown into different sections
of the canals. The cilia detect when the endolymph rushes past, and a signal is then
sent to the brain. The semicircular canals are a component of the Labyrinth. Among
species of mammals, the size of the semicircular canals is correlated with their type
of locomotion. Specifically, species that are agile and have fast, jerky locomotion
have larger canals relative to their body size than those that move more cautiously.
