different between utricle vs saccule

English

Alternative forms

• utriculus

Etymology

Borrowed from French utricule or Latin ?triculus (“a small skin or leathern bottle”), diminutive of ?ter (“a bag or bottle made of an animal's hide”). Doublet of utriculus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ju?.t??k.?l/

Noun

utricle (plural utricles)

1. (biology) A small cell, sac, or bladder-like protuberance in an animal or plant:
   1. (anatomy) The larger of the two fluid-filled cavities forming part of the membranous labyrinth in the vertebrate inner ear (the other being the saccule) and into which the semicircular canals open. It contains hair cells and otoliths which send signals to the brain concerning the orientation of the head.
   2. (anatomy) Clipping of prostatic utricle.
   3. (botany) A dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with thin membranous pericarp, similar to an achene and found in the beet and dock plants.

Hyponyms

• prostatic utricle

Derived terms

• utricular (adjective)
• utriculo-

References

• “utricle”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.
• “utricle”, in Merriam–Webster Online Dictionary, (Please provide a date or year).

See also

• saccule

English

Alternative forms

• sacculus

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin sacculus (“a little sack or bag”), diminutive of saccus (“a bag, sack”). Doublet of sacculus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?sæk.ju?l/

Noun

saccule (plural saccules)

1. (biology, anatomy) A small sac, pouch, or cyst.
2. (anatomy) The smaller of the two fluid-filled sacs forming part of the labyrinth of the inner ear (the other being the utricle). It contains a region of hair cells and otoliths which send signals to the brain concerning the orientation of the head.

Derived terms

• saccular (adjective)
• sacculo-

References

• “saccule”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.
• “saccule”, in Merriam–Webster Online Dictionary, (Please provide a date or year).

See also

• utricle

Latin

Noun

saccule

1. vocative singular of sacculus