vestibul

Vestibul is a term with multiple senses, used in both architecture and anatomy. It derives from the Latin vestibulum, meaning an entrance or an antechamber. In English-language usage the form vestibule is common, but in some contexts and languages the root appears as vestibul.

Architectural vestibul

In building design, a vestibul (or vestibule) is an interior space located at the threshold between the outdoors and the interior. It typically serves as an entry hall or waiting area, helping to regulate temperature and air flow, reduce drafts, and control pedestrian traffic. A vestibul may provide access to several adjacent rooms or corridors and sometimes functions as a transitional space for clothing, footwear, or security checks.

Anatomical vestibul

In human anatomy, the vestibul refers to the vestibule of the inner ear, a central compartment within the bony labyrinth located between the cochlea and the semicircular canals. The inner-ear vestibule contains two sensory organs, the utricle and the saccule, each with a macula that senses linear acceleration and head position relative to gravity. Hair cells bend in response to movement of otoliths (statoconia) on the maculae, sending signals through the vestibular nerve, a branch of the vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII), to the brainstem and cerebellum. These signals contribute to balance, posture, spatial orientation, and stabilization of gaze via the vestibulo-ocular reflex.

Clinical relevance

Disorders of the vestibular system can cause dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, and nausea. Conditions include vestibular neuritis, Ménière’s disease, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, among others. In architecture, issues with a vestibul can affect accessibility, energy efficiency, and traffic flow within a building.