<P> The utricle , or utriculus ( Latin : utriculus , diminutive of uter , meaning `` leather bag '' ) , along with the saccule , is one of the two otolith organs located in the vertebrate inner ear . The utricle and the saccule are parts of the balancing apparatus ( membranous labyrinth ) located within the vestibule of the bony labyrinth ( small oval chamber ) . These use small stones and a viscous fluid to stimulate hair cells to detect motion and orientation . The utricle detects linear accelerations and head - tilts in the horizontal plane . </P>
the major function of the utricle and saccule in the vestibule is
to detect motion and orientation