Thickened areas of the saccule or utricle where the termination of the vestibular nerve occurs[MESH,modified]. [ MESH:A09.246.631.909.625.125 ]
Synonyms: sensory patch sensory macula maculae macula
Term information
- MESH:D008267
- TAO:0000386
- ZFA:0000386
- GAID:777
uberon_slim, pheno_slim
this refers to the inner ear structure, not the macula of the retina. We follow ZFA in including a grouping class for the macula of utricle and sacule
Patches of thickened, pseudostratified epithelium of the inner ear, consisting of regular arrays of sensory hair cells interspersed with supporting cells. Each patch has its own charcteristic shape and polarity pattern. (See Anatomical Atlas entry for sensory patches of the ear by T. Whitfield.)[TAO]