<P> In the middle ear, the energy of pressure waves is translated into mechanical vibrations by the three auditory ossicles . Pressure waves move the tympanic membrane which in turns moves the malleus, the first bone of the middle ear . The malleus articulates to incus which connects to the stapes . The footplate of the stapes connects to the oval window, the beginning of the inner ear . When the stapes presses on the oval window, it causes the perilymph, the liquid of the inner ear to move . The middle ear thus serves to convert the energy from sound pressure waves to a force upon the perilymph of the inner ear . The oval window has only approximately 1 / 18 the area of the tympanic membrane and thus produces a higher pressure . The cochlea propagates these mechanical signals as waves in the fluid and membranes, and then converts them to nerve impulses which are transmitted to the brain . </P> <P> The vestibular system is the region of the inner ear where the semicircular canals converge, close to the cochlea . The vestibular system works with the visual system to keep objects in view when the head is moved . Joint and muscle receptors are also important in maintaining balance . The brain receives, interprets, and processes the information from all these systems to create the sensation of balance . </P> <P> The vestibular system of the inner ear is responsible for the sensations of balance and motion . It uses the same kinds of fluids and detection cells (hair cells) as the cochlea uses, and sends information to the brain about the attitude, rotation, and linear motion of the head . The type of motion or attitude detected by a hair cell depends on its associated mechanical structures, such as the curved tube of a semicircular canal or the calcium carbonate crystals (otolith) of the saccule and utricle . </P> <P> The human inner ear develops during week 4 of embryonic development from the auditory placode, a thickening of the ectoderm which gives rise to the bipolar neurons of the cochlear and vestibular ganglions . As the auditory placode invaginates towards the embryonic mesoderm, it forms the auditory vesicle or otocyst . </P>

Which inner ear organ senses the position of the head in space