How does the human vestibular apparatus work? Vestibular disorders: symptoms and treatment

Modern otorhinolaryngologists and neurologists are often faced with the need to treat vestibular disorders in adults. Symptoms of diseases caused by a disorder of this system significantly affect the patient’s condition and affect his usual lifestyle. Despite the fact that everyone has heard about the concept of the vestibular apparatus, not everyone knows what it is and where it is located.

Where is the vestibular apparatus located?

This department nervous system is responsible for body balance when standing and walking, orientation in space. For disorders of the vestibular system, treatment is a set of measures to restore sensitivity and coordination of movements, eliminate problems with vision and hearing.

It is known that it is located in the temporal part of the head, or rather in the ear. This arrangement can be considered quite safe, since it ensures the integrity of the organ during various injuries Oh. The vestibular apparatus performs the functions of an analyzer that perceives changes in the position of the head and body in space, determining the direction of movement. It is found only in vertebrates and humans.

The causes of vestibular apparatus disorders and the treatment of diseases caused by them are directly related. Thus, disorders of this part of the nervous system occur due to damage to the semicircular ear canals, vestibulocochlear nerve and brain cells. Accordingly, in order to eliminate the symptoms and return the functioning of the organ to normal indicators, first of all it is necessary to cure the injuries.

Main functions

So, maintaining balance and orientation in space is the main purpose vestibular organ. In addition, the department in question is responsible:

for a straight gait;
vision;
coordinated eye movements;
nausea when rotating the body;
sense of one's own location.

Thanks to the connection of the organ with the heart and brain, the occurrence of dizziness during changes can be explained blood pressure, pain in the heart, emotional expression.

Main symptoms of pathology

External manifestations of some diseases are clear signs of disorders of the vestibular apparatus. Treatment for ear dysfunction should not only be symptomatic, but have A complex approach, since it significantly affects the patient’s quality of life. The most common complaints are:

Disturbed balance. The patient turns his head with his eyes closed hesitantly, as he is afraid of falling. Precise and instant movements become impossible.
Vestibular vertigo. Treatment of diseases of the vestibular apparatus pursues main goal- restore correct perception of space and orientation in it. Many patients feel as if the ground is disappearing from under their feet, everything is spinning around them, and the body is falling down.
Background nausea. As a rule, this symptom accompanies dizziness. IN difficult cases turns into vomiting.
Nystagmus. Inability to focus vision and concentrate on objects, especially those that are close. Thus, the need to treat disorders of the vestibular apparatus is indicated when uncoordinated eye movements interfere with reading or writing, and when, for example, a person tries to grab an object nearby with his hand, he misses.
"Floating" gait. This symptom often prevents the patient from leading his usual lifestyle. When walking, the patient constantly sways from side to side and falls.

In addition to the above signs, other symptoms of vestibular disorders are possible. Treatment involves eliminating fluctuations in pulse rate, breathing and pressure, tinnitus, and pain relief for cephalalgia.

Causes of vestibular dysfunction

The causes of such disorders, as already mentioned, are the results of various injuries and diseases of the nervous, cardiovascular systems, and hearing organs. Among the pathologies diagnosed for disorders of the vestibular apparatus, it is worth noting:

Benign positional vertigo. People over 50 years of age are at risk. The cause of the disease is considered to be the deposition of calcium salts in the canals of the inner ear.
Neuritis of the vestibulocochlear nerve. Most often, the pathology develops against the background of previous viral infections, including herpes, chickenpox, influenza. The disease is accompanied by dizziness, decreased hearing acuity, and increased sweating.
Vertebro-basilar syndrome. The reason for the development this state serves poor circulation and insufficient blood flow to the brain caused by pathologies of soft tissues and blood vessels cervical spine. Most often found in older people.
Vestibulopathy. The disease is provoked by exposure to toxic drugs. In most cases - antibiotics. Among the features of the course of the disease, it is worth noting rapidly developing hearing loss, constant nausea and dizziness.
Meniere's syndrome. Pathology inner ear accompanied by noise and crackling in the ears.
Chronic diseases (otitis, eustachitis, otosclerosis).
Migraine.
Brain tumors with manifestations of epilepsy.

Why does it occur in animals?

In particular, in dogs, treatment of vestibular disorders is most often carried out due to injury auditory organ or damage due to fluid accumulation in tympanic cavity inflammation occurs, plus everything pathogenic microorganisms, penetrating into vestibular apparatus, negatively affect its cells. All this can lead to complete deafness of the animal.

Patient examination

In order to begin treatment with medications for disorders of the vestibular apparatus, it is necessary comprehensive diagnostics. The patient receives a referral for research procedures from an otolaryngologist or neurologist, depending on the complaints and symptoms with which he sought help.

Most often, patients have to undergo examination, consisting of:

from CG of the brain;
nystagmography;
Ultrasound of the vessels of the neck and head;
radiography;
electrocochleography;
ophthalmography.

Posturography is another way to determine the cause of dysfunction of the vestibular organ. This study allows us to obtain graphic image the patient's center of gravity at rest or during physical activity. While the subject stands on a rotating platform, sensors connected to him record the slightest changes in the nervous system and study his reaction.

Vestibular gymnastics

Treatment of vestibular apparatus disorders is based on the creation individual plan exercises. The training is a set of gymnastic exercises tailored to the individual characteristics of each organism. It is advisable to perform them regularly for fifteen minutes. Ideally, you need to train at least twice a day. The pace of exercise should be increased gradually.

First exercise. Smoothly move your gaze from bottom to top, then from left to right. At the same time, it is important to ensure that the head remains motionless and increase the pace of movements.
Second exercise. Perform 25 bends in one direction and the other, forward and backward. Repeat the complex again, but with your eyes closed.
Third exercise. In a sitting position, perform 10 shrugs, then raise your arms different sides. Repeat for a minute.
Fourth exercise. For a minute, throw a rubber ball up with one hand and catch it with the other. It is important that the toy flies above eye level; you cannot take your eyes off it.
Fifth exercise. Walking around the room with your eyes closed. In the absence of symptoms of a vestibular organ disorder, you can complicate the training by going through various kinds obstacles.

Treatment with tablets

Drug therapy is an equally important component for recovery from disorders of the vestibular system. Drug treatment - quick and effective method stimulation of receptors and elimination characteristic symptoms. IN medical practice The following two remedies are most often used.

"Vestibo"

The first drug belongs to the group of histaminomimetics. Active ingredient improves the drug cerebral circulation and normalizes signal transmission along the vestibular nerve. "Vestibo" does an excellent job of blocking the vomiting centers, so these tablets are excellent at eliminating nausea. The course of treatment is 1 month, drink 1 tablet in the morning and evening.

"Relanium"

This is a representative of the benzodiazepine series of medications. It works in a similar way. After the first doses, patients’ nausea and dizziness disappear. However, the disadvantage of this medicine is its ability to cause addiction. If there are disorders of the vestibular system, treatment with these tablets is prescribed by a doctor. You cannot buy the drug at a pharmacy without an official prescription. The course of therapy is no more than two weeks.

Alternative medicines from traditional healers

It is worth noting one more direction in the treatment of vestibular disorders. Folk remedies are often used to combat specific symptoms of pathology. Particularly popular among patient adherents alternative treatment The following recipes are used:

You can relieve nausea and overcome dizziness with the help of ginger mixed with mint, pumpkin seeds, dill, chamomile flowers, lemon zest and celery. All components are thoroughly mixed and poured with boiling water. For one glass of boiling water, use 1 tablespoon of the mixture.
Clover flowers are poured with alcohol and allowed to brew for a couple of weeks in a place protected from light. Afterwards the medicine is taken 10-15 drops every day on an empty stomach, washed down big amount water.
The method for preparing propolis tincture is similar to the previous recipe. Small softened pieces of propolis are poured with vodka and left in a dark place for 10-14 days. You need to take the medicine together with refined sugar: drop 20 drops onto a sugar cube in the morning and evening for 10 days.

If we approach the issue of treatment comprehensively, therapeutic effect will come soon. However, before using any medicine, you should definitely consult a doctor.

Most people in the world know what the vestibular apparatus is. But, unfortunately, not everyone understands what kind of life important function he carries within himself. This irreplaceable part of our body is responsible for balance, coordination, orientation of the body in space, as well as partial functioning of vision, hearing and general sensitivity in organism. The structure of the organ is located in such a way that its main part is located in the inner ear, but the main work still occurs in specific department brain - cerebellum.

The basis of the entire apparatus- this is the concentration of ciliated cells in the inner ear, endolymph, as well as otoliths (specific calcareous formations) and jelly capsules in the ampoules of the semicircular canals.

Human vestibular apparatus gives two types of signals: statistical (often they are associated with the position and coordination of the human body in space, its location individual parts) and dynamic (movements associated with acceleration). The whole work looks like this: mechanical irritation of the hairs occurs, as a result of which a signal is sent to the human brain a certain type, and after analysis, the brain sends the appropriate command to the muscles. And all this in a fraction of seconds. In other words, coordination of human muscles occurs, which makes possible body navigate in space. If we make a rather rough comparison with human technology, then the gyroscope is the most suitable tool for this.

Vestibular disorders

Causes of vestibular apparatus disorders is malfunction cerebellum. Dysfunctions often appear if vascular, inflammatory diseases nose, ears or eyes (including inner ear disorders), trauma, dysfunction eustachian tube, viruses and infections, as well as diseases of bacteriological etiology. As you know, the ear is not a sealed organ, it follows that even if such a small part of everyday life as careful hygiene is missing, vestibular disorders can occur. That's why water procedures and drying the ear canal, special attention must be paid.

Problems and diseases of the vestibular apparatus

In other cases, it is impossible, at first glance, to determine the symptoms of a disorder of the vestibular apparatus. The problem is not visible to the naked eye, only appears in certain situations or by carrying out simple physical exercise, tests. Special group risk that is exposed various dysfunctions important body, these are people after 60. This happens not only because at this age the risk of ENT diseases increases significantly, but also because general deterioration immunity and wear and tear of the body.

Vestibular apparatus disorders may produce a symptom, or even symptoms, such as:

Present and psychosomatic phenomena, such as:

panic;
increased heart rate;
increased heart rate;
sweaty hands;
desire to hide in a far corner;
blood pressure disorders;
sudden change in complexion (pallor, redness);
increased salivation.

A person simply cannot control his brain. It seems to him that he is going to fall, he is terribly afraid of flying. The escalator causes panic. Symptoms often occur unexpectedly, and there are both constant and erratic time intervals between manifestations of the disease.

Symptoms may appear for any of the following reasons:

Strong aromas.
Motion sickness in any type of transport.
Vertebrobasilar insufficiency syndrome.
Increased blood density.
Swelling of the ear.
Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries.
Taking medications, including chemicals or antibiotics.
Intoxication of the body.
Vestibular neuritis.

Also, the cause of disorders of the vestibular apparatus can be acquired or congenital diseases cardiovascular, nervous system.

Diseases of the vestibular apparatus

Vestibular neuritis

The main syndrome found in a series of diseases of the vestibular apparatus. One of the most common reasons disorders of the vestibular apparatus are damage to the vestibular nerve. It can occur at any age; often the cause of the disease can be an infection of the nasal cavity, upper respiratory tract, as well as ears and throat.

Neuritis is accompanied by the following syndromes:

dizziness;
nausea, with possible repetitions.

Restoration of the organ responsible for balance occurs quickly and, in most cases, successfully.

Blockages of the internal labyrinthine arteries

The most dangerous dysfunction of the coordination organ is characterized by an imbalance of blood supply to the brain, which leads to lack of nutrition, oxygen starvation, and in particularly difficult cases, to cerebellar damage caused by stroke or heart attack. Main symptom illness - dizziness. Deafness (partial or complete), as well as loss of orientation in space, may also be observed.

Meniere's disease.

The disease is often diagnosed by symptoms such as a schedule or buzzing sound, infrequent dizziness, nausea, and in special cases and clouding of consciousness. Often the disease is bacterial, viral or infectious. The action itself takes place in the membranous labyrinth.

Benign positional vertigo

Occurs more often in older people, but can occur at any age. Most often, before such a disease, a person suffers from ear, nose and throat diseases, but often the exact cause of the disease is unknown. Dizziness occurs in short attacks, repeated every time there is a change in the position of the body in space.

Vestibulopathy

The disease is characterized by many dysfunctions of the vestibular organ, the main and most common manifestation of which is the lack of human coordination in space. The disease can be considered either separately or in conjunction with other characteristic malfunctions in the body. Treatment of vestibulopathy is complex and often has a favorable outcome, especially when early diagnosis diseases.

Chronic bilateral vestibulopathy.

Vestibulopathy manifests itself as a slowly growing dysfunction of stability and moderate, but stable (compared to partial) dizziness. Most often, the disease is associated with poisoning with ototoxic drugs.

Vertebral-basilar insufficiency

In old age, after displacement or any other movement of the head, there is a feeling of rotation or vibration in the eyes, nausea, infrequently, pain can radiate to the stomach. All these are symptoms of the disease. Not only the device itself is treated, but also the cardiovascular system. People with existing cardiovascular diseases or previous operations on the cardiovascular system often suffer from vertebral-basilar insufficiency.

Post-traumatic vertigo

Occurs after a traumatic brain injury, as well as with a concussion, and any other head injuries or a fracture of the temporal bone.

Infectious and viral diseases ear

Diseases pose a direct threat to the vestibular apparatus simply because the risk of complications is very high. nearby organ. Which directly affects the condition.

Vestibular dysfunction

Occurs when the vestibular nuclei malfunction. Most often, dysfunction is confused with many ailments of the vestibular apparatus simply because the most a common symptom dizziness appears. After contacting a specialist, most often the patient is given vestibular resuscitation.

Treatment and training of the vestibular apparatus

Often, many complications that can be associated with the balance organ, can be improved with training. Treatment of disorders or even diseases depends on the severity and neglect of the situation. If you notice one or more symptoms of the disease, you should immediately consult a doctor. IN in this case An otolaryngologist will help.

A specialist will help you understand the causes of your illness, conduct an examination and provide necessary help. You will be assigned additional research, in order to exclude misdiagnosis. After a detailed diagnosis, you will be prescribed a unique therapy suitable only for your disease. Treatment of the vestibular system is always complex and often requires long-term rehabilitation afterward.

How to improve the vestibular apparatus?

A weak vestibular apparatus is not only possible, but also necessary to be strengthened. For this purpose, certain exercises aimed at improving coordination and increasing sensitivity of the body are suitable. A set of tasks aimed at building strong muscles, adequate analysis nerve endings, as well as psychosomatic well-being, was developed back in the distant 30s.

Every person makes a lot of body movements every day: walking, squatting, turning. Often all movements are given without the slightest effort and turn out smooth. However, sometimes an extra step or bending of the body causes serious discomfort: dizziness, disorientation and nausea sets in. Perhaps the reason lies in a disease or disorder of the vestibular apparatus.

What is the vestibular apparatus

The organs of balance have complex system buildings and are responsible for several functions simultaneously. However, the main thing among many others is the vestibular analyzer - peripheral section system responsible for correct orientation in space. If there are any violations of the coordination system, a person loses the ability to maintain balance, navigate in space, perceive visual, audio information, he begins to feel dizzy.

Where is the organ of balance located?

If you open an anatomy textbook, you can see many photos of the structure of the balance system. However, most of these images do not provide a clear idea of where the vestibular apparatus is located in humans. If you imagine the structure cranium from the inside, you can find that this organ is located in the inner ear. Around the balance apparatus are the semicircular canals, jelly-like endolymph and receptors vestibular analyzer.

How does the vestibular apparatus work?

The components of the system are three semicircular tubules - the utriculus and the otolith organ - the sacculus. The channels are filled from the inside with a viscous liquid and have the shape of a shell, at the base of which there is a seal - jelly-like cupules. The sacculus is divided into two sacs: round and oval shape. Above them are small crystals of calcium carbonate - otoliths.

Under the sealing valve there are ciliated cells of the inner ear, with the help of which two types of signals are transmitted: static and dynamic. The first are associated with the position of the body, the second with the acceleration of movement. In general, the coordination organ is formed in such a way that at the slightest tilt and turn of the head or walking, all the component parts interact at once.

How does the balance organ work?

Although the vestibular system is located inside the bone box, this does not prevent it from collecting information not only about the position of the head, but also the arms, legs and other organs human body. The connection with the balance apparatus is especially secure at the nerve endings, gastrointestinal tract, of cardio-vascular system. That is why, after being nervous and drinking too much coffee, many people feel dizzy.

Under the influence of attraction, the jelly-like liquid and the crystals in it will shift, affecting the balance receptors. The villi will immediately transmit information to the brain about changes in balance, and from there instructions will come to other organs: change muscle tone, move your leg or arm to the right, stand up straighter. At the same time, it is very interesting that the vestibular system is configured only for horizontal movement of the body, therefore, when going up in an elevator or flying on an airplane, many experience severe nausea, ringing in the ears, dizziness.

Functions

In close proximity to optic nerves And ears the balance system has nothing to do with hearing or vision. Main function vestibular apparatus - analyze changes in the position of the arms, legs, torso or head and transmit data to the brain. The organ quickly reacts to minimal external influence, detecting even the slightest changes in the gravitational field of the planet, helping to maintain balance in complete blindness or navigate in unfamiliar space.

Vestibular disorders

Due to the fact that all components of the balance apparatus act together, while it manages to collect information from other organs of the body, the slightest deviations in one direction or another can lead to disruptions in its functioning. Vestibular disorders cause serious problems in spatial orientation not only in humans, but also in animals and birds.

Previously, such deviations from the norm affect the gait: it becomes uncertain, shaky, a person can fall for no reason or crash into an upright piece of furniture. In addition, many patients complain of constant dizziness, pain in the temporal region, blurred vision, tinnitus, increased heart rate.

Reasons for violation

Why the vestibular apparatus is disrupted is difficult to answer unequivocally even for an experienced otolaryngologist. For example, a simple head injury or short-term loss of consciousness can lead to this pathology. If an adult complains of dizziness, then it is likely that the cause lies in heart problems. When a system failure occurs after an infection: otitis media, ARVI with complications, inflammation, they speak of intoxication.

Symptoms

Doctors say that the main manifestations of pathology are severe dizziness, loss of coordination and eye twitching. However, the patient is often persecuted by others associated symptoms vestibular apparatus disorders:

attacks of nausea, sometimes vomiting;
changes in color skin, mucous membranes of the mouth, membranes of the eyes;
profuse sweating;
increased blood pressure;
tachycardia;
rapid breathing;
a decrease in body temperature below normal levels;
change in heart rate.

All signs may appear in fits and starts. During periods of calm, the patient feels completely healthy, and previous symptoms vestibular disorders chalks it up to fatigue. Often such signs of malaise occur when changing body position, tilting or turning the head, changes in temperature or air humidity, or when strong unpleasant odors appear.

Diseases of the vestibular apparatus

Doctors count more than 80 different diseases that in one way or another may be associated with a violation of the balance apparatus. An example is diseases endocrine system, traumatic brain injuries, cardiovascular pathologies, serious mental disorders. At the same time, for all diseases of the vestibular system, doctors will have an explanation, a description of the symptoms and ways to check them.

Meniere's disease

This disease of the balance apparatus can be described using only four signs: dizziness, noise or congestion in the ears and hearing loss. The first three symptoms peak within a couple of minutes, gradually subsiding over several hours. Decline sound perception on early stage reversible. In some patients, Meniere's syndrome may be accompanied by short-term loss consciousness or balance.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

This deviation can occur at any age, but most often affects the elderly. It is caused by infections, traumatic brain injuries, or ischemic disease hearts, sometimes the source cannot be determined. In patients with this diagnosis, a feeling of dizziness, loss of balance and other symptoms appear with every turn, tilt of the torso or head.

Basilar migraine

The syndrome is short-lived and usually affects patients under 20 years of age. Basilar or teenage migraine is especially common in girls entering their formative years. menstrual cycle. Headaches, dizziness and nausea in a teenager appear suddenly and in rare cases development lasts more than one hour.

Vestibular neuritis

The disease is possible at any age. Often its appearance is accompanied by an acute respiratory infection, so doctors attribute the disease viral nature. Neuritis of the vestibular apparatus is accompanied by severe rotational dizziness, vomiting and nausea, and twitching of the eyelid. With properly selected treatment, the deviation disappears in 3-4 days, but full recovery it will take up to several weeks.

What to do if the vestibular system is damaged

When the balance organs fail and signal this in every possible way, a person should first undergo an examination and visit an ENT doctor’s office. Mandatory diagnostics includes:

special hardware tests for audiometry and electronystagmography;
CT or MRI of the brain;
blood analysis;
ultrasound examination of blood flow;
vestibular tests.

Training

If the dizziness is minor and only bothers you when traveling on a boat, going up in an elevator, or making sudden turns of the body, your balance apparatus needs to be trained. Exercises for the vestibular apparatus can be mastered by anyone if desired:

Sit on a chair or armchair. Pull forward forefinger and fix your gaze on it. Start turning your head in different directions, gradually increasing the pace.
Next exercise: take two cards in your hands, straighten your elbows. It is necessary to alternately focus your gaze on one of the cards, while your head must remain motionless.
Stand up, spread your legs, and focus your gaze straight ahead. Start making circular movements with your body. First with a small amplitude, then with a large circle diameter.
All exercises for training the vestibular system should be performed daily with several approaches.

Treatment

If imbalances progress and other symptoms are added to the momentary dizziness, gymnastics will not help. Urgently needed drug treatment vestibular vertigo. The choice of drug and method of therapy will depend on the reasons that caused this:

If damage to the balance apparatus is caused by peripheral polyneuropathy, then diabetes must be treated.
At paroxysmal vertigo, the ENT specialist chooses a special technique: he turns the patient in a certain sequence, the crystals change location, after which an improvement in well-being occurs.
Treatment of dizziness with Meniere's syndrome cannot be done without effective antihistamines and antiemetic drugs. In addition, the patient necessarily needs nutritional correction and a special diet.
Migraines in children can be treated with aspirin, ergotamine, beta blockers and antidepressants.
If disorders appear at retirement age, the doctor may suggest implanting implants that will restore the lost balance.

Folk remedies for dizziness

Along with drug therapy and preventive gymnastics, it is possible to treat the vestibular apparatus folk remedies. For example, make ginger tincture:

Take 4 tsp. grated ginger root, mix with a pinch of dried mint, fennel seeds, pumpkin seeds, chamomile flowers and orange zest.
Pour the herbal mixture hot water, let steep for 15 minutes and drink if you experience dizziness, loss of balance, or other signs of systemic disturbances.

In case of persistent dysfunction of the balance apparatus at home, strengthen weak body A balm made from three tinctures helps:

For half a liter of alcohol, take 4 tablespoons of clover inflorescences. Wrap the container with foil and leave for 2 weeks.
For the same amount of alcohol, take 5 tbsp. l. Dioscorea root. Insist as in the previous recipe.
Fill the propolis with alcohol and put it in a dark place. After 10 days, strain the tincture.
Mix all three components and take 1 tbsp three times after meals. l.

Video: what the vestibular apparatus is responsible for

Vestibular sensitivity most ancient after common types sensitivity. The origin and formation of life on Earth occurred under the conditions of the existence of two global factors, the geomagnetic field and gravity. The last factor had an important influence on the formation of complex organisms due to the need to take into account the gravity vector to implement the anti-gravity position of the body.

Functions of the vestibular apparatus

The vestibular apparatus is a sensory organ that perceives, with the help of vestibular receptors, changes in the position of the head and body in space, as well as the direction of movement. The vestibular apparatus ensures body balance in a standing position, when walking, running, jumping, while dancing, when going up and down stairs, while swimming, when riding a horse. various types transport port, during execution gymnastic exercises, that is, during all movements, when the human body moves from the simplest position to the most complex, the vestibular analyzer (apparatus) is used. If the activity of this analyzer is disrupted, there is a decrease or total loss the ability to maintain body balance in space.

Structure of the vestibular apparatus

vestibulocochlear nerve

The vestibular apparatus has become the main channel signaling the position of the body in space relative to the gravity vector. Vestibular sensitivity is carried out by the vestibulocochlear nerve ( VIII pair), which includes two types of reception - vestibular and auditory. The principle of organization is the same as that of general types of sensitivity, namely: the peripheral part (the receptor neuron with its node and the root of the vestibulocochlear nerve) and the central part (in this case, the auditory and vestibular nuclei are homologues of the posterior horns of the spinal cord).

Violation of the functions of the balance organ occurs as a result various diseases, damage and due to lack of training of this organ from an early age. When a person accelerates his movements, during rotational, oscillatory movements, when driving a vehicle, the hypersensitivity of these receptors causes strong excitement their nerve centers, which are located in the pons. As a result of this, dizziness, flickering in the eyes, palpitations may appear, and a decrease in blood pressure, paleness of the face, nausea, vomiting, sometimes even fainting conditions can be observed.

If this analyzer is seriously damaged, a person becomes dizzy even when getting out of bed, spots appear before the eyes and nausea, and he is forced to quickly sit down or lie down. With mild damage to the vestibular analyzer, it is difficult for a person to maintain balance and he experiences awkwardness when performing complex movements - when running fast, jumping, spinning, when going up and down stairs, etc. Consequently, the main complaint of patients with damage to the vestibular apparatus is dizziness, usually accompanied by ataxia.Material from the site

Irritation of the vestibular apparatus causes nistagmus in the affected side, and its depression in the unaffected side. If necessary, carry out caloric and rotational tests. Caloric test - infusion of cold (about 20 C) water into both ears of the patient alternately - causes healthy person horizontal nystagmus in the opposite direction lasting up to 1 minute. When the vestibular apparatus is damaged, caloric nystagmus disappears or, conversely, intensifies.

The rotation test is performed while the patient is in a special chair. After ten revolutions, the chair is stopped, and the subject experiences a nystagmus in the direction opposite to the rotation, lasting 15-25 s. When the vestibular apparatus is damaged, rotational nystagmus disappears or, conversely, intensifies.

Vestibular apparatus (from Latin vestibulum - vestibule)

an organ that perceives changes in the position of the head and body in space and the direction of body movement in vertebrates and humans; part of the inner ear (See inner ear) . V. a. - complex receptor of the vestibular analyzer (See Analyzers). Structural basis of V. a. - a complex of accumulations of ciliated cells of the inner ear, endolymph, and calcareous formations included in it - otoliths (See Otoliths) and jelly-like cupules in the ampoules of the semicircular canals (See Semicircular canals). Two types of signals come from balance receptors: static (related to body position) and dynamic (related to acceleration). Both signals arise from mechanical stimulation of sensitive hairs by displacement of either otoliths (or cupules) or endolymph. Typically, the otolith is denser than the surrounding endolymph and is supported by sensory hairs. When the position of the body changes, the direction of the force acting from the otolith on the sensitive hairs. Studies on fish have shown that the effective irritating force acting on the sensitive epithelium is a component directed parallel to the surface of the epithelium (the so-called shear force). This is probably the reason for irritation of hair cells in other vertebrates. The irritating effect for the semicircular canals is the acceleration of movement of the entire body or head, acting in the plane of each canal. Due to the different inertia of the endolymph and cupula, upon acceleration, the cupula shifts, and the friction resistance in the thin channels serves as a damper (silencer) of the entire system. The oval sac (utriculus) plays a leading role in the perception of body position and is probably involved in the sensation of rotation. The round sac (sacculus) complements the oval one and is apparently necessary for the perception of vibrations (See Vibration).

Transfer of excitation to V. a. into the brain is carried out by the vestibular branch of the auditory nerve. Centers vestibular function associated with the cerebellum, nuclei of the oculomotor nerves and centers of the autonomic nervous system. Higher cortical centers of V. a. located in the temporal region of the cerebral hemispheres. When irritating the receptors of V. a. a number of reflexes arise (changes in the tone of the muscles of the neck, torso and limbs), allowing one to maintain balance when changing body position. These reflexes are accompanied by eye twitching (see Nystagmus) and autonomic reactions. In a person with severe irritations V. a. a symptom complex of motion sickness develops (dizziness, disturbances in cardiac activity, respiratory rhythm, nausea, vomiting), characteristic, for example, of seasickness. With frequent repetitions of strong vestibular irritations, the reaction to them weakens. This is the basis of vestibular training used for physical training sailors, pilots, astronauts, etc.

Training V. a. includes movements that irritate it (tilts, turns, jumps, exercises on a trampoline, crossbar, etc.), as well as repeated exposure to angular and linear accelerations on the body using rotating installations (centrifuges), swings, etc.

Lit.: Kislyakov V. A. and Orlov I. V., physiology of the vestibular system ( current state problems), in the collection: Questions of the physiology of sensory systems, [v. 1], M.-L., 1966.

G. N. Simkin.

Great Soviet Encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1969-1978 .

See what “Vestibular apparatus” is in other dictionaries:

- (from Latin vestibulum vestibule, entrance), receptor apparatus located in the semicircular canals and internal sacs. ear; perceives changes in the position of the head and body in space and the direction of body movement in vertebrates. Presented sensitive... ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary

- (from the Latin vestibulum vestibule), a sensory organ in vertebrates and humans, perceiving changes in the position of the head and body in space, as well as the direction of movement. Located in the semicircular canals and sacs of the inner ear... Modern encyclopedia

- (from Latin vestibulum vestibule) a sensory organ in vertebrates and humans, perceiving changes in the position of the head and body in space, as well as the direction of movement. Located in the semicircular canals and sacs of the inner ear... Big encyclopedic Dictionary

- (balance organs), a system that provides mammals with the ability to maintain body position, counteracting the force of gravity, and to take into account changes in position when moving. The main organs of balance are located in the inner EAR - the UTERUS... ... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

VESTIBULAR APPARATUS- VESTIBULAR APPARATUS, see Inner ear... Big medical encyclopedia

- (lat. vestibulum vestibule), an organ that perceives changes in the position of the head and body in space and the direction of body movement in vertebrates and humans; part of the inner ear. Training the vestibular system in the elderly... ... Wikipedia

vestibular apparatus- vestibulinis aparatas statusas T sritis Kūno kultūra ir sportas apibrėžtis Kūno pusiausvyros organas, juntantis galvos judėjimą ir jos padėtį erdvėje. Anatomiškai priskiriamas prie vidinės ausies, nors su klausa beveik nieko bendro neturi. Yra… …Sporto terminų žodynas

VESTIBULAR APPARATUS- [from lat. apparatus] peripheral section of the vestibular analyzer; receptor apparatus located in the semicircular canals and sacs of the inner ear; ensures the perception of changes in the position of the head and body in space and the preservation... ... Psychomotorics: dictionary-reference book