An experimental study on the isolated lateral semicircular canal of the bull frog

We used isolated lateral semicircular canals from the bull frog, Rana catesbeiana. The cupula was removed from the crista and a glass micropipette was used to depress the sensory cilia on the crista toward the utricular side. Five points on the crista were selected for stimulation. Decremental time constants of the lateral ampullary nerve action potentials were measured. The longest time constant was obtained from stimulation to the wide portion of the crista. The time constant progressively decreased as the narrow side of the crista was approached. These results indicate that the lateral semicircular canal crista is equivalent to the halved posterior semicircular canal crista in terms of both morphology and physiology.