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semicircular canal
(redirected from Semicircular canals)

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
sem·i·cir·cu·lar canal (sm-sûrky-lr)
n.
Any of three bony tubes in the labyrinth of the ear within which the semicircular ducts are located.

semicircular canal
[-sur′kyələr]
Etymology: L, semi-, half, circulare, to go around, canalis, channel
any of three bony fluid-filled loops in the osseous labyrinth of the internal ear, associated with the sense of balance. The posterior, superior, and lateral canals, all about 0.8 mm in diameter and perpendicular to each other, open into the cochlea. The posterior canal is the longest.


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The semicircular canals contain fluid and special sensors that, when disturbed, inform the brain of a change in head position.
Vertigo is caused by calcium carbonate particles called otoliths which are put out of place into the semicircular canals of the inner ear.
 
 
 
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