Saccule

Saccule
Inner ear, showing saccule near center.
illustration of otolith organs showing detail of utricle, otoconia, endolymph, cupula, macula of saccule, hair cell filaments, and saccular nerve
Details
Part of	Inner ear
System	Balance
Identifiers
Latin	sacculus
TA98	A15.3.03.065
TA2	7001
FMA	61116
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The saccule (Latin: sacculus) is a bed of sensory cells in the inner ear. The saccule is from Latin saccus 'sack'. The saccule translates head movements into neural impulses for the brain to interpret. The saccule detects linear accelerations and head tilts in the vertical plane. When the head moves vertically, the sensory cells of the saccule are disturbed and the neurons connected to them begin transmitting impulses to the brain. These impulses travel along the vestibular portion of the eighth cranial nerve to the vestibular nuclei in the brainstem.

The vestibular system is important in maintaining balance, or equilibrium. The vestibular system includes the saccule, utricle, and the three semicircular canals. The vestibule is the name of the fluid-filled, membranous duct that contains these organs of balance. The vestibule is encased in the temporal bone of the skull.