How does the mammalian ear function to maintain body balance and equilibrium?
The mammalian ear contains three semicircular canals that are oriented along three different axes. These allow your body to detect motion in any direction. The three canals are (from Wikipedia): The three canals are: * Horizontal semicircular canal; detects rotation of the head around a vertical axis (i.e. the neck), as when doing a pirouette. * Superior semicircular canal; detects rotations of the head in the sagittal plane, as when nodding. * Posterior semicircular canal; detects rotation of the head around a rostral-caudal (anterior-posterior) axis, as when cartwheeling.
