The Vestibular System, Animation

Anatomy and physiology (A&P) of the vestibular system - the organ of equilibrium or balance. The 3 semicircular canals that sense rotational (angular) accelerations, and 2 otolith organs - saccule and utricle - that sense head positions and linear motions.
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Voice by : Marty Henne
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The vestibular system is responsible for the body’s equilibrium, it maintains balance and provides awareness of the body’s spatial orientation. Vestibular sensory organs detect changes in the head’s positions and movements, and transmit this information to various regions of the brain. Projections to the brainstem trigger reflex pathways that lead to compensatory actions to maintain stability or re-establish equilibrium, while projections to the cortex provide perception of gravity and movement.
Examples of vestibular reflex pathways include:
- the vestibulo-ocular reflex that controls eye muscles to keep visual objects in focus while the head is moving. It does so by moving the eyes in the opposite direction as the head.
- and the vestibulo-spinal reflex that senses a potential loss of balance and activates body muscles to keep the body from falling.
The sensory part of the vestibular system is located in the inner ear on each side of the body. It consists of 3 semicircular canals that sense rotational movements, such as when the head is turning, and 2 otolithic organs that sense head positions, as well as straight line motions, such as when riding in a car or an elevator.
The 3 semicircular canals, or ducts, are oriented approximately at a right angle to each other, each corresponding roughly to one of the 3 planes of motions: turning left and right, nodding up and down, and tilting to a side. They contain a fluid called endolymph. Each canal has an enlargement at one end called an ampulla. Within the ampulla, there are hair cells embedded in a gel-like structure named cupula that extends the entire height of the ampulla.
When the head turns, the ducts that are located on the same plane of motion rotate, but the fluid lags behind because of inertia. This causes the fluid to briefly move in the opposite direction as the head, and either push or pull on the cupula, bending the cilia on the hair cells, and thus activating them to send nerve impulses to the brain. The direction of the bend determines if the signals generated are excitatory or inhibitory. Because the 2 sides of the head are mirror images, a head turn generates excitatory signals on one side, and inhibitory signals on the other.
The 2 otolithic organs are 2 patches of hair cells oriented nearly perpendicular to each other: the saccule being vertical, and the utricle being horizontal. The cilia of these cells are embedded in a gel-like layer sprinkled with calcium carbonate crystals called otoconia, commonly known as “ear rocks”. The crystals add weight to the layer, pulling it down with gravity.
When the head is in upright position, the gelatinous layer bears down evenly on the cells of the utricle, the cilia remain straight and no signals are generated. On the vertical saccule, however, the heavy gel is pulled down by gravity at one end, bending the cilia, generating nerve impulses. The reverse is true when the head is horizontal. Other head positions are determined by a combination of signals coming from both organs.
Vestibular sensory organs detect not the motion itself, but changes in the rate of motion, specifically acceleration or deceleration. For example, when a person is sitting in a car that starts to move, the heavy gel-like layer of the utricle lags behind at first, bending the cilia back, activating the hair cells. The more sudden the car starts, the greater the stimulation. Once the car is in stable motion, the gel catches up with the rest of the tissue, and no activation results. Similar events occur in the saccule during an elevator ride up or down.

[@Alilamedicalmedia]

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[@RohitPant04]

Note: Every group of stereocilia contains a tall and distinct stereocilia called the Kinetocillium which is used as the frame of reference in regards to a depolarization or hyperpolarization reaction. Bending the stereocilia toward the kinocilium depolarizes the cell and results in increased afferent activity. Bending the stereocilia away from the kinocilium hyperpolarizes the cell and results in a decrease in afferent activity.

[@Devil-qn4gm]

What is the condition when cilia neither away or close to kinocillium ?

[@andienaulia3288]

PLS PLS HELP ME WHERE IS KINETOCILLIUM LOCATED IS IT IN RIGHT OR LEFT BCS IT CONFUSED ME SO MUCH OH MY GOD

[@soochankim3539]

@@andienaulia3288 they are located towards the middle I believe, but I am not 100%, my apologies, have a good day!

[@ruchirabanerjee6104]

Vestibular system is no joke. I had BPPV on 3rd March 2023 and after Epley Maneuver I got 75℅ relief from vertigo but residual dizziness from last 3 months is still troubling me a lot. I have also discomfort, stiffness and moderate pain in neck and head with balance problem. My right ear is controlling my balance while walking as left side is trembling.

[@kavilsdr8671]

​@@Devil-qn4gm it is not the left and right..c...the hair cell which is bigger na..it is called as kinetocilla...which is ntg but the central longer hair..

[@Dr.DaveStrength]

Why do I always learn more in 4 min youtube videos than from my professors at the graduate level smh. Thank you!

[@johnwilliam9954]

Lovely presentation . Explained exactly how I wish my teacher would do. Thank you.

[@samattar2164]

I'm preparing my physiology exam and I can't tell you how much this visual representation and explanation helped. thank you

[@GoodFilmStudio]

Finally well-explained tutorial with corresponding head positions

[@kigormley]

Fantastic presentation. Thank you very much.

[@sunsetbutterfly2799]

Thank you so much. This was clear and understandable. ❤

[@NataliaSzymczyk-vk8no]

Thank you! Incredibly simple but meanigful presentation!

[@gabrielcajigas698]

Dr. K presented this material to us. He also showed us this video which really helped me understand it. Seeing the movement of the cupula as it is explained really helps the visual learners.

[@mytypho]

Thankyou for the accurate content🙏

[@danam7172]

hands down, one of ur best videos ever

[@thunghiempenicilliumchryso933]

Excellent. Excellent! Thank you!!

[@jackietunberg5819]

It was great to get this information. Glad it was available. When I move my head my eyeballs feel a bouncing sensation-not enough that I can't see.

[@zohremashkoori]

exactly what i was looking to :) thank you ♥

[@zmzmcardp]

Great explanation 👏👏

[@samaneakbarizarkesh2541]

perfect and very helpful thank you❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@salemmacnee9720]

Great video!

[@carrie1974]

Great video! I've been having trouble with vertigo and this helps me better understand how things are connected and how they work together.

[@SimonShababGillVlogs]

Best explanation 👌

[@niknajwaafifah6120]

More videos please ! ❤️

[@natsza1000]

Good video!!

[@mukundkakade007James.]

Excellent presentation for all. I like it. Thank you

[@barakaobama4017]

The human body is truly marvelous

[@kakandecharlse8548]

Imagine how it would evolve 1000000 years in the future 😁

[@rctvideos]

Good explanation

[@koushikkashyap439]

Wow Amazing

[@aylona8422]

It was perfect, thank you!

[@dancingdoctor4109]

This is good

[@achikmanderang9771]

Thank u sir

[@jenniferveerasamy2887]

Thank you 🙏🏾

[@Alilamedicalmedia]

You are so welcome

[@RohitPant04]

The dangerous thing about problems with vestibular problems is how much they are ignored. Vestibular issues are much more common than you think. However, since there often aren’t outward symptoms to identify, it’s impossible to tell who may be suffering unless they tell you. Out of every 10 adults you know, at least 3 may be dealing with vestibular issues.

[@Jojoboogie]

Suffering from vestibular issues here. It's not a fun feeling when a person is sitting/standing still while feeling rocking and swaying motion. Thanks for bringing this out to light.

[@saimaahsan1985]

I have vestibular disorder

[@Tony-body]

Reminder I'm on my son's KZbin account haha, I'm a 30 year old woman who's been struggling over the last 5 months feeling absolutely hopeless been to different ENTs and emergency rooms and am now seeing a neuroligist without any diagnosis the more research I do I've come to find related symptoms to labyrinthitis and your absolutely right about how ignored this condition is I found with lots of studdy that it's also challenging to indicate what type of ear infection or vestibular issue it may be which totally sucks for patients like me but who ever is having vertigo issues I highly recommend vestibular exercises they really do help

[@madslouispetersen8204]

So true, and the education in diagnosis and rehabilitation is seldom seen in the education system. That's why I choose to specialise in it as a physical therapist myself.

[@rival21243]

I do 😢

[@Pepperoni290]

Bro how did evolution create something like this

[@truthnottradition7]

Takes far more "faith" to believe this is all by chance than it does that there is a creator.

[@ahmedbyahmed4405]

Randomness cannot do this it's divine greatness

[@SomXee]

God is great

[@whateveritwasitis]

amazing. I just asked the same exact question before seeing yours.

[@abdulkaderalriyashi9436]

What an intelligent design!!

[@kagefisk]

LMAO

[@azca.]

I miss Ashley Fleming as the narrator. Her voice was so iconic. Excellent video though

[@azrinsani]

Amazing how all this was created by itself!

[@azrinsani]

@@JCT75 Hence by itself....

[@nadabrimo9662]

By itself ?!

[@azrinsani]

@@nadabrimo9662 sarcasm

[@Matthew8473]

I'm enlightened by the depth and breadth of this content. A book with related material offered a comprehensive new outlook. "The Art of Meaningful Relationships in the 21st Century" by Leo Flint

[@therealsabrinamichele1252]

Cool

[@islam7939]

هَٰذَا خَلْقُ اللَّهِ فَأَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقَ الَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِ

[@aakriti7681]

What's the difference between vestibular apparatus and vestibular system??

[@user-nj3kr1pn1l]

Good❤

[@whateveritwasitis]

I guess everyone has their own reasons, but I find this to be the most complex and interesting organ. you can see the evolutionary projection of the eye, or brain, but I cannot see it for this organ.

[@jayadama1301]

What is vestibular system?

[@lynnciagabalenciaga9281]

I was told I have Vestibular Migraines. I’ve never been dizzy a day in my life until this year. Doctor don’t know if it’s from a side effect from the medication Emgality or Covid vaccine. But everything happened after both medications. I have been experiencing dizziness for a year. I feel like I’m either on a boat or things are just always in motion. I have flashes of lights or flickering in my eyes. Ringing in my ear that comes in goes that sounds like either a train horn or static. I do get migraines. I’ve noticed that when I am driving I don’t feel any dizziness. Sometimes when I am laying in bed I literally feel like my bed is bobbing up and down or I feel as if I’m rolling. I don’t believe this is vestibular migraines. Can someone help?

[@sabirafayyazsurve2324]

Hey there! I would recommend you to consult an Audiologist in this case... and inclusion of an ENT would also be required

[@komphatak3395]

How is your dizziness issue now? Has it improved?

[@marcelamule6458]

Cómo están buen día ! Hay algún medicamento u operación para este problema ? Yo sufro de migrañavestibular

[@inesorozco1430]

Yo también x eso llegue aquí Es triste sufrir esto

[@sinkeverbruggen1576]

very helpfull video, but the animation at 1:29 is hilarious

[@sharonleigh2608]

Succinct, thank you.

[@brendaadams1483]

Lord I have been off balance with symptoms from this for years I think, but all the doctors claim it's just inner ear but hasn't did any test except hearing test and had me to walk, but I been 42 years in with this neasuated, confusion,, disorentated, vision blurry, ears constantly making noises, poor appetite, fatigued, weak, tired very easily, haven't enjoyed nothing so ce 1991 I think I correct so anyone out there with tinnitus or whatever get it checked out soon as possible God Bless

[@michelfoster4053]

Menier's disease?

[@stephenfincham8901]

BVH

[@akshaykumarjilukari39]

What is solution

[@jackietunberg5819]

I was hospitalized and received gentamiacin to recover. The medication damaged my vestibular system and now I am off balance and have had to have thereapy to improve it. I will never recover fully and will always have some off balance issues to deal with daily.

[@janetwehrer2662]

I am so sorry to hear this. I am dealing with this same disorder without any explanation as to why. Physical therapy is the only thing that has helped.

[@otosonet6693]

Aren't the two systems redundant? It seems to me that the two organs with the otoliths have the same function as the three "tubes"...

[@brandonmora442]

So if someone gets punched there that would temporarily paralyze them ?

[@topeycasanova4003]

I think there's a problem in the diagragm for utricle from upright position going to lying position. Please confirm, thank you. 3:11

[@alking_am842]

I agree there is a clear mistake

[@monasaeed1983]

هل هناك مترجم لهذا الفيديو بالعربية

[@Alilamedicalmedia]

There are Arabic subtitles, just switch them on in the setting!

[@parthkadam428]

✌️

[@tiktokhub4298]

my lecturer explained all this info in an hour.....lol

[@nadabrimo9662]

سبحان الله ❤

[@kobebiankabryant8682]

I'm so sensitive🥺 , I can feel the Earth move 😅

[@truthnottradition7]

I don't feel the ground beneath me accelerating 2000mph each 12hrs.

[@bintz1823]

Omg this is so amazing! How complicated and perfectly designed is creation! Whether you look out into the universe or deeply into your own body…you find that everything has been out there intentionally and has a purpose! Allahu Akbar. God is The Most Amazing, The Creator. God says in the Quran, “O people, here is an illustration, so listen carefully: those you call on beside God could not, even if they combined all their forces, create a fly, and if a fly took something away from them, they would not be able to retrieve it. (22:73)”

[@JoseCruzReyes-yp1bo]

❤❤😮😮😊😊

[@RajKumar-ck6ge]

Text text Not seen somthing

[@frankmccrossan4871]

Posted by Ashley's mammy.😉

[@shahdnabhan4786]

🎉✨🤎🤎🤎