otoconia
noun plural
oto·co·nia
-ˈkō-nē-ə 
: 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
Cite this Entry
“Otoconia.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/otoconia. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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