Definition of statolith in English:

noun

• 1Zoology
  A calcareous particle in the statocysts of invertebrates that stimulates sensory receptors in response to gravity, so enabling balance and orientation.

  More example sentences

  • ‘They have these little statoliths or balance organs in the back of their head and we can section those and look under a microscope and have daily rings just like tree rings in a tree stump.’
  • ‘The combination of the statocysts and the statolith aids the mussel in maintaining equilibrium by sensing gravity.’
  • ‘Thus, a model for gravitropism in stem-like organs is proposed in which F-actin modulates the gravity response by actively participating in statolith repositioning within the endodermal statocytes.’
  • ‘The head is analogous to a statolith, the movements of which are monitored by fields of hair sensilla located on the head, neck, and prothorax.’
  • ‘The sagittal section contains the statolith and the internal structure of the two lens eyes.’

  1. 1.1
     another term for otolith