CALCAREOUS CORPUSCLE Meaning and
Definition
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A calcareous corpuscle, also known as an otolith or statoconium, is a small concretion or crystalline structure found in the inner ear of certain animals, particularly fish and other vertebrates. It plays a crucial role in their sensory perception and equilibrium.
Made primarily of calcium carbonate, a calcareous corpuscle is encased in a specialized membrane within the utricle and saccule, two sac-like structures located in the vestibule of the inner ear. These corpuscles are essential for the detection of gravity and linear acceleration, allowing animals to orient themselves in space and maintain balance.
When the head position or acceleration changes due to movement or gravitational forces, the calcareous corpuscles move accordingly, stimulating hair cells in the inner ear. These hair cells convert the mechanical signals received from the corpuscles into electrical signals that are then transmitted to the brain. This sensory input helps animals perceive their position in relation to gravity, understand directional changes, and adjust their movements accordingly.
In humans, the calcareous corpuscles contribute to our sense of balance and are responsible for our ability to detect changes in head position. Damage or abnormalities within these structures can lead to balance disorders, dizziness, and problems with spatial orientation. Accordingly, understanding the structure and function of calcareous corpuscles is crucial for both medical and physiological research.
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One of the dentinal cells of the teeth containing earthy salts.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for CALCAREOUS CORPUSCLE
- cal careous corpuscle
- calc areous corpuscle
- calca reous corpuscle
- calcar eous corpuscle
- calcare ous corpuscle
- calcareo us corpuscle
- calcareou s corpuscle
- calcareous c orpuscle
- calcareous co rpuscle
- calcareous corpu scle
- calcareous corpus cle
- calcareous corpusc le
- calcareous corpuscl e
Etymology of CALCAREOUS CORPUSCLE
The word calcareous comes from the Latin word calx, which means lime or chalk. The suffix -eous is derived from the Latin -osus, meaning full of or abounding in.
The term corpuscle has its origins in the Latin word corpusculum, which means small body or particle.
Therefore, the etymology of the term calcareous corpuscle can be understood as a small body or particle full of or abounding in lime or chalk.
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