MCAT Question A Day - 1/16/14 - Answer!

Where in the body are the receptors for detecting the kind of movement that occurs when a car suddenly accelerates?

A. Saccule and utricle

B. Semicircular canals

C. Cochlea

D. A and B

The correct answer is (D). The receptors in the saccule and utricle respond primarily to gravitational forces when stationary and during linear acceleration. Receptors in the semicircular canals (choice B) respond to both linear and rotational acceleration, while receptors in the cochlea (choice C) respond to sound waves.

Want more questions? - Click here to check out our MCAT Question A Day archive