Equilibrium

Abeer Elemam Dief

Assistant professor of physiology
 Semicircular canals

There are 3 SSCs, one horizontal (lateral) and two

vertical (ant, post)
Arranged at right angle to each other
They open into the utricle by 5 opening, because the
ant and post. Canal unit to open in the utricle by one
.opening
 Functions of SCCs

Perception of angular acceleration (rotation) .1

Maintain body equlibrium during rotation .2

N.B. SCC is active only at the beginning, end of rotation or if the

rate of rotation is changed
Each SCC is stimulated when the rotation is at its plane
Sense organ of SCC is crista ampullaris
In the horizontal canal, the kinocilium is located toward the
utricle, so bending of the cupula toward the utricle
stimulates the hair cells, while bending of the cupula away
from the utricle inhibit the hair cells

However, in the ant and post canals (vertical) the kinocilium

lies toward the canal
 Stimulant of SCCs
Rotation .1
Caloric stimulation .2
Galvanic stimulation .3
Motion sickness .4
Labyrinthine diseases (inner ear .5
inflammation or lesion in the vestibular
apparatus)
Mode of action of SCC during rotation
At rest
At start of rotation
seconds after onset of rotation 30
On stop of rotation
second after stoppage of rotation 30
 Effects of stimulation of SCC

Autonomic changes
Muscle tone changes
Vertigo
Nystgmus
 Vertigo

False sensation of counterrotation of the individual or the

surrounding on stop of rotation

Causes
On stop of rotation
Inner ear disease
Motion sickness
Overdose of streptomycin
Error of refraction
Chronic Alcoholism
Caloric or galvanic stimulation
 Mechanism of vertigo
After stoppage of rotation, the endolymph continue to
move by its momentum for about 30 seconds in the
original direction of rotation, causing stimulation of the
crista
 Pathway of vertigo
Crista
vestibular nerve
vestibular ganglion
vestibular nucleus in the medulla
Through ICP
Folliculonodular lobe
Dentate nucleus of the cerebellar hemisphere
Cross to the opposite side
Thalamus
cortex
 Nystagmus

Rhythmic oscillation of the eye balls that normally develops

during rotation for 30 seconds since onset of rotation
(rotatory nystgmus), also develop on stop of rotation, for 30
seconds (post rotatory nystagmus)

This reflex tends tomaintain visual fixation on stationary point

during rotation known as vestibulo-ocular reflex
 Causes of nystagmus

Physiological
Pathological

Rotation .1 Neocerebellar .1
syndrome
Looking from the window .2
Inner ear disorders .2
of a rapidly moving vehicle
Defective vision .3
Lesion in the floor of .4
4th cerebral ventricles
 Components of rotatory nystagmus

Slow component .1
Slow Equal movement of both eyes toward the opposite
direction of rotation

Rapid component .2
rapid jumping of both eyes in the same direction of rotation

Rotatory nystagmus is named after its rapid component

 Pathway of nystagmus
Slow component
Crista
vestibular nerve
vestibular ganglion
vestibular nucleus in the medulla
MLB
Nuclei of cranial nerve III, IV, VI
Causing equal movement of both eyes toward the opposite
direction of rotation
 Pathway of nystagmus
rapid component
Crista
vestibular nerve
vestibular ganglion
vestibular nucleus in the medulla
RF
MLB
Nuclei of cranial nerve III, IV, VI
Causing jumping of both eyes in the same direction of rotation
 Test for vestibular functions
.The past pointing test .1
.Turning test .2
Caloric test .3