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Hearing, Proprioception, and the Chemical Senses
Published in Robert W. Proctor, Van Zandt Trisha, Human Factors in Simple and Complex Systems, 2018
Robert W. Proctor, Van Zandt Trisha
The sensory receptors for the vestibular sense are located within the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear (Goldberg et al., 2012). This sense allows us to feel the movements of our bodies. It also contributes to our ability to control the position of our eyes when we move our heads and to maintain an upright posture. The vestibular organ is comprised of three structures: the utricle and saccule (collectively called the otolith organs) and the semicircular canals. Within the otolith organs and the semicircular canals are receptor cells very similar to those found on the basilar membrane (Lackner & DiZio, 2005). Displacement of cilia within these organs results in a neural signal.
Hearing and Noise
Published in Stephan Konz, Steven Johnson, Work Design, 2018
In addition to hearing, the ear provides a sense of balance through the pea-sized vestibular system, which is subdivided into the utricle and the semicircular canals. The utricle has “pebbles” (otoliths) resting on a bed of hairs (cilia); the pressure tells you which way gravity is operating. The three semicircular canals (one for each axis) are mutually perpendicular; they sense acceleration through movement of liquid in the canals. The utricle (static system) monitors the position of the head in space; the semicircular canals (dynamic system) monitor the movement of the head in space.
Spatial Orientation and Disorientation
Published in Anthony N. Nicholson, The Neurosciences and the Practice of Aviation Medicine, 2017
Each otolith organ contains a sensory epithelium, the macula, consisting of a carpet of hair cells, the hairs of which project into the base of the overlying statoconial membrane (Figure 4.6). This membrane is rendered more dense than the surrounding endolymphatic fluid by the incorporation within it of crystals of calcium carbonate, giving the membrane a stony appearance, from which the name otolith is derived. The hair cells of the sensory epithelium have a directional sensitivity and will change their rate of firing if there is relative movement in the appropriate direction between the sensory epithelium and the statoconial membrane. Such movement comes about if, as a result of tilt, there is a change in the component of gravity acting on the statoconial membrane in the plane of the macula, or if, as a result of a dynamic acceleration, it is subject to an inertial force. The direction of maximum sensitivity of the hair cells changes progressively across the surface of the macula in such a way that, whatever the direction of acceleration acting in the plane of the macula, there will always be a group of hair cells that are maximally stimulated. Since the macula of the utricle lies approximately in the horizontal plane and that of the saccule in the sagittal plane, the anatomical arrangement of these two structures allows sensation of the direction and intensity of any acceleration acting on the head. The only force in terrestrial life that acts continuously on the inner ear is that associated with gravity. As a result, though sensitive to the transient accelerations associated with locomotion, the predominant function of the otolith organs is to act as sensors of tilt of the head with respect to the direction of gravity.
A computational framework to simulate the endolymph flow due to vestibular rehabilitation maneuvers assessed from accelerometer data
Published in Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 2018
Carla F. Santos, Jorge Belinha, Fernanda Gentil, Marco Parente, Bruno Areias, Renato Natal Jorge
The vestibular system is the sensory system that provides the leading contribution about movement and sense of balance. As our movements consist of rotations and translations, the vestibular system comprises two connected main components; the three semicircular canals (SCCs), which are placed orthogonally to measure rotational movements, and the utricle and the saccule, which contain the otoliths to measure linear accelerations. Each SCC is comprised of a circular section of continuous fluid, connected with the ampulla and the vestibule (which contains the sensory epithelium).
Smart platform for the analysis of cupula deformation caused by otoconia presence within SCCs
Published in Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 2019
Radun Vulović, Milica Nikolić, Nenad Filipović
The vestibular apparatus together with cochlea make inner ear. Translational motion is regulated by the utricle and saccule placed within the vestibule. Utricle is a sort of fluid chamber, placed in vestibule and in front of the semicircular canals, containing the membrane as well. The utricle detects linear accelerations and head-tilts in the horizontal plane. The saccule detects linear accelerations and head tilts in the vertical plane. Rotational movements are detected by three semicircular canals for each ear, filled with fluid (Figure 1).