The hair cells of the maculae, unlike those of the ampullae, are oriented in different directions (the arrows indicate the border on which the kinocilium is located). The cells of the Macula sacculus are vertically oriented; those of the Macula utriculus are for the most part, horizontal.

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The calcareous otoconia tug differentially on these hairs depending on the orientation of the head with respect to gravitational pull, or on the direction of linear acceleration.

Inputs from the maculae work with inputs from stretch receptors in the neck and from the eyes, to give information on orientation with respect to gravity and linear acceleration.

[Control of Eye Movements]

Vestibular Control of Eye Movements

The semicircular canal inputs to the oculomotor nuclei, is wired to ensure that eye movements effectively compensate for head movements, in order to ensure that a stable image of the external world can be maintained on the retina.

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