SPHR 2108 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Semicircular Canals, Balance Disorder, Angular Acceleration
14 May 2018
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Balance Disorders
What are balance disorders?
● A balance disorder is a malfunction of the vestibular system that makes the patient unsteady or
dizzy. While sitting, standing, or lying down one with a balance disorder may feel as though they
are spinning or floating.
● This means that there may be something wrong with your vestibular system. Your vestibular
system is your sensory system that detects:
○ Motion
○ Head Position
○ Spatial Orientation
Anatomy of the vestibular Labyrinth
Inner Ear: Organs of the Labyrinth
➢ 3 Semicircular Canals: angular acceleration (each canal corresponds with different directions of
movement)
○ Anterior
○ Posterior
○ Lateral
➢ Utricle: linear acceleration (side to side movements)
➢ Saccule: linear acceleration (gravity)
Anatomy of the Vestibular labyrinth
● Ampulla: extension of the semicircular canal
○ Hair cells: sensory receptors of the vestibular system
○ Stereocilia: a collection of small hair cells which rests on each hair cell
● Otolith organs: 2
○ Utricle: detects horizontal (back and forth) movements
○ Saccule: detects vertical (gravitational) movements
Signs and Symptoms of balance disorders
● Blurred Vision
● Falling or feeling as if you are going to fall
● Confusion and disorientation
● Vertigo
● Dizziness
Common causes
What can cause a balance disorder…
- Issues related to the vestibular system or causes related to other body systems and conditions
- viral or bacterial infections of the ear, a head injury, or blood circulation disorders that affect the
inner ear or brain
- problems in the visual and skeletal systems and the nervous and circulatory systems can be the
source of some posture and balance problems
Common causes (cont.)
- Conditions/events resulting in imbalance and/or dizziness may resolve spontaneously or may
become chronic.
- Balance problems and dizziness may also be the result of taking a certain medication
- May be acquired through changes in age
Types of balance disorders
- BPPV—positional vertigo: brief intense feeling of vertigo that is a result of a certain positioning
of the head
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find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
A balance disorder is a malfunction of the vestibular system that makes the patient unsteady or dizzy. While sitting, standing, or lying down one with a balance disorder may feel as though they are spinning or floating. This means that there may be something wrong with your vestibular system. Your vestibular system is your sensory system that detects: 3 semicircular canals: angular acceleration (each canal corresponds with different directions of. Utricle: linear acceleration (side to side movements) Hair cells: sensory receptors of the vestibular system. Stereocilia: a collection of small hair cells which rests on each hair cell. Utricle: detects horizontal (back and forth) movements. Falling or feeling as if you are going to fall. Issues related to the vestibular system or causes related to other body systems and conditions. Viral or bacterial infections of the ear, a head injury, or blood circulation disorders that affect the inner ear or brain.
