The vestibular system contains semicircular canals that respond to angular acceleration and otoconial organs that respond to linear acceleration of the head. Information is sent to the motor system and, under normal circumstances, does not lead to conscious perception. Yet damage to the vestibular system can result in disequilibrium or vertigo, disturbing perceptions that dominate conscious experience. The shared residence of the cochlear and vestibular end organs in the inner ear can give rise to inner ear disorders such as Ménière’s disease. The effect of gravity on the otoconial masses in the sacculus and utriculus enable detection of static head tilt. Age-related disequilibrium, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, motion sickness, and alcohol intoxication–induced vertigo are explained. How natural head movements elicit combined canal and otoconial organ responses is described. Finally, the dependence of posture and gaze on vestibular inputs is introduced as a segue to the next chapter.
A Novel Permanent Magnetic Angular Acceleration Sensor
