The reason that there are three semicircular canals is so that we _________.

A) have one canal to sense motion in each of the three planes
B) can see the world in three dimensions
C) can detect sound locations in the three-dimensional world
D) have an extra if one is broken

The semicircular canals in the inner ear are oriented in three different planes, allowing them to sense motion in each of those planes. This helps us maintain our balance and sense changes in our orientation in space. Having three canals also allows for redundancy in the system, so if one canal is damaged or not functioning properly, the other two can still provide information to the brain.