Question

Static balance is maintained by
A. Maculae
B. Cristae
C. Organ of Corti
D. Reissner’s membrane

Answer 1

The ear is an acusto-static organ. This means that the ear helps in hearing (acusto), and balancing (static) of the body. The ear is subdivided into three main parts- external, middle, and internal ear.

Complete answer: Anatomy of the internal ear- The internal ear consists of the vestibular apparatus that help in the balancing of the body. There are three semicircular canals originating from the utriculus. They consist of a sensory spot in the cristae called the ampulla. The cristae help in the dynamic balancing of the body when a person is in motion. The static balancing in the body is done by the maculae. The macula of the utriculus does balance in forward and backward direction and the maculae of the sacculus help in the sideways balancing of the body.
Thus, the Maculae helps in the static balancing of the body.

Hence, option (A) is correct.

Note: Our ear has three main parts- external, middle and internal ear.
1. External ear – It comprises the cavity which is known as the auditory canal. The outer cartilage of the ear is known as the pinna. At the end of the auditory canal, the tympanum or the eardrum is attached.
2. Middle ear – The cavity of the middle ear is known as the Tympanic bulla. It has 3 ear ossicles of the three bones. These are the malleus, incus, and stapes. The stapes or stirrup is the smallest bone in the human body. The middle ear has three openings, the oval window, or Fenestra ovalis, the round window or the Fenestra rotunda, and the Eustachian tube.
3. Internal ear – The cavity of the inner ear is called the Bony labyrinth and the Membranous labyrinth. The inner ear comprises the vestibular apparatus having the utriculus, sacculus, and cochlea, which helps in balancing the body.