Vestibule of the ear

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Vestibule of the Ear

The Vestibule is the central part of the inner ear, situated medial to the eardrum, behind the cochlea, and in front of the semicircular canals. It is involved in the body's sense of balance and spatial orientation.

Anatomy[edit | edit source]

The vestibule is the part of the bony labyrinth that is intermediate between the semicircular canals and the cochlea. It contains two membranous sacs: the utricle and the saccule, which respond to gravity and changes in linear acceleration.

Function[edit | edit source]

The vestibule plays a key role in the body's sense of balance. The utricle and saccule within the vestibule contain specialized cells that detect changes in motion and gravity. These signals are then sent to the brain, which interprets them and helps maintain balance and spatial orientation.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

Diseases of the vestibule can lead to symptoms such as vertigo, dizziness, and loss of balance. These include conditions such as Meniere's disease, vestibular neuritis, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


  Diseases of the ear and mastoid process 

Outer ear

Middle ear
and mastoid

Inner ear and
central pathways

Equilibrioception
Hearing
Hearing impairment
Excessive response
Deafblindness
Other

Vestibule of the ear Resources
Doctor showing form.jpg
Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Admin, Prab R. Tumpati, MD