utricle

English

Alternative forms

• utriculus

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈjuː.tɹɪk.əl/

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-

See also

• saccule

References

• “utricle”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “utricle”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.