vestibulaarsüsteemist

The vestibular system is a sensory system responsible for providing the brain with information about motion, head position, and spatial orientation. It plays a crucial role in maintaining balance, stabilizing gaze during head movements, and coordinating bodily movements. The primary components of the vestibular system are located in the inner ear, specifically within the labyrinth. This labyrinth contains two main types of organs: the semicircular canals and the otolith organs.

The three semicircular canals are arranged at approximately right angles to each other, allowing them to detect rotational movements of the head in all three planes: sagittal, coronal, and transverse. Each canal contains a fluid called endolymph and a sensory structure called a crista ampullaris. When the head rotates, the endolymph lags behind, stimulating hair cells within the crista, which send signals to the brain via the vestibular nerve.

The otolith organs, the utricle and the saccule, are responsible for detecting linear acceleration and the pull of gravity. They contain hair cells embedded in a gelatinous membrane covered with calcium carbonate crystals called otoconia. When the head moves linearly or tilts, the otoconia shift, bending the hair cells and transmitting signals about position and acceleration to the brain.

Information from the vestibular system is processed in the vestibular nuclei in the brainstem, which then relay signals to various brain regions, including the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and oculomotor nuclei. This intricate network allows for reflex adjustments in posture, eye movements, and a conscious perception of our position in space, essential for navigating and interacting with our environment. Disruptions to the vestibular system can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, and nausea.