Anatomy and function of the vestibular system
The inner ear has two functions: the cochlea processes auditory information, while the vestibule and semicircular canals are involved in maintaining balance.
Maintaining balance involves the participation of several systems or senses, whose information is used jointly to enable the person to maintain posture or stabilize their gaze on a target while their head is in motion. Thus, vision and the proprioceptive system (tactile sensations) are also involved.
The vestibule contains the saccule and utricle. These two organs are sensitive to the effects of gravity. They help determine whether we are standing on our feet, for example. They are also involved in maintaining posture when we are in motion, such as in a car or elevator. The semicircular canals transmit the relevant information to our brain to perceive the movement of our head in different axes.
Functions
- Stabilize vision during head movements
- e.g. when walking
- Maintain postural balance
- Stabilize the head in space
- e.g. Driving
- Perceiving movements
All the information gathered by the vestibular system, vision and proprioceptive system is transmitted to the brain.
