Which vestibular organs are stimulated by gravity and linear movements and detect changes in speed without changing direction?

• A. Semicircular Canal
• B. Otolith Organs
• C. Somatosensory System
• D. Gustatory System

Answer: (B)

Otolith organs are specialized to sense linear movement and gravity. They consist of the utricle and saccule, each with hair cells embedded in a gelatinous layer that contains otolith crystals. When the head tilts or accelerates in a straight line, gravity causes the otoliths to shift the layer, deflecting the hair cells. This deflection signals head position relative to gravity and linear acceleration, capturing changes in speed without rotation.

In contrast, the semicircular canals detect rotational movement and angular acceleration, not gravity or straight-line speed changes, while the somatosensory system and gustatory system are responsible for touch/proprioception and taste, not vestibular linear sensing.