Description of vestibular system

Question

Give a brief description of vestibular system? How does it function?

Answer 1

The vestibular system is the part of ear which participates in control and regulation of the equilibrium of body (balance).

The semicircular canals of inner (internal) ear are vertically placed and detect alters in the gravitational position of head (this is another sensorial function of the inner ear, besides auditory perception). When the head rotates the pressure of fluid in the canals upon the cilia of particular receptor cells varies and these cells generate action potentials transmitted by vestibulocochlear nerve. The neural impulse is then interpreted by brain as information about the gravitational position of head.