otoconia

noun plural

oto·​co·​nia -ˈkō-nē-ə How to pronounce otoconia (audio)
: small crystals of calcium carbonate in the saccule and utricle of the ear that under the influence of acceleration in a straight line cause stimulation of the hair cells by their movement relative to the gelatinous supporting substrate containing the embedded cilia of the hair cells

called also statoconia

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Cite this Entry

“Otoconia.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/otoconia. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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