vestibulare

Vestibulare, in medical and anatomical usage, refers to the vestibular system, the sensory apparatus of balance and spatial orientation located in the inner ear. It comprises the vestibule (the utricle and saccule) and the three semicircular canals, which together detect linear and angular head movements. The otolith organs (utricle and saccule) sense gravity and linear acceleration, while the semicircular canals sense rotational head movements. Hair cells within these structures transduce mechanical movement into neural signals carried by the vestibular portion of the eighth cranial nerve to brainstem and cerebellar centers.

The vestibular system works in close coordination with vision and proprioception to maintain balance, posture, and stable gaze. The vestibulo-ocular and vestibulo-spinal reflexes help stabilize images on the retina during head movement and adjust muscle tone to preserve posture.

Common vestibulare-related disorders include vertigo and dizziness from peripheral causes such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, and Menière disease, as well as central causes affecting brainstem or cerebellar pathways. Symptoms typically include spinning sensation, imbalance, nausea, nystagmus, and sensitivity to motion.

Diagnosis relies on clinical history and specialized tests, such as the Dix-Hallpike maneuver for BPPV, head impulse tests, caloric testing, and vestibular imaging when needed. Treatment emphasizes vestibular rehabilitation therapy to promote compensation, management of symptoms with medications as appropriate, and addressing underlying conditions. Prognosis varies, with many patients achieving meaningful improvement through targeted therapy.