HealthTree Blog

Several systems govern the body’s sense of balance and orientation.  The structure that is housed in the inner is known as the vestibular system and is one of these systems.  The auditory nerve transmits both hearing and balance information to the brain from the vestibular system constantly to help keep the body in balance.

The cochlea which is the inner ear’s hearing organ is connected to three other bony structures call the semicircular canals and they consist of membranous tubes inside the bony exterior tubes.  These canals and the vestibular system are filled with fluid, which triggers nerve impulses that send information to the brain and this keeps the body in balance. This information also helps the brain execute the necessary motor movements that adjust the body’s position.  Proprioception, which is the awareness of one’s body location and movements in space, is sent to the brain by the vestibular system and contributes to the sense of balance of the body.  The vestibular system structures perceive two types of movement.  These are angular acceleration which is rotational movement and linear acceleration which is the movement along a straight line up and down and side to side.

The semicircular canals contain hair cells at their base that detect the movement of the fluid in these structures.  When this fluid is displaced the cilia triggers nerve impulses which send information to the brain about rotational movement.

In the body’s system of balance and equilibrium the vestibular sensory system is an important component in helping to detect both rotational and lateral movement. When there is a problem with the vestibular system the sense of balance is upset and dizziness can occur.  The causes for this imbalance can range from an ear infection to low blood pressure and even minor problems with the heart’s rhythm.