otolith

American  

[oht-l-ith] / ˈoʊt l ɪθ /

noun

1. Anatomy, Zoology. a calcareous concretion in the internal ear of vertebrates.

2. statolith.

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otolith British  

/ ˈəʊtəʊˌlɪθ /

noun

1. any of the granules of calcium carbonate in the inner ear of vertebrates. Movement of otoliths, caused by a change in position of the animal, stimulates sensory hair cells, which convey the information to the brain

2. another name for statolith

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Other Word Forms

• otolithic adjective

Etymology

Origin of otolith

First recorded in 1825–35; oto- + -lith

Example Sentences

When processed properly, scientists like Lackmann can examine the otolith with a compound microscope and count the layers, like the rings on a tree, and learn the age of the fish.

From Science Daily • Oct. 30, 2023

This, Wachter said, stresses the fish and causes a visible ring to form around a bone called the otolith.

From Washington Times • Oct. 6, 2018

In those individuals, Balaban says, further tests implicated damage to the ear's otolith organs, the utricle and the saccule, key to sensing gravity.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 20, 2018

While the otolith, or ear bone from the fish found Tuesday has not been analyzed to look for the mark that determines it is one of Cooke’s fish, Varney said he had no doubt.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 19, 2018

The otolith apparatus of the cat can render it no service in free descent.

From Popular scientific lectures by Mach, Ernst