Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Vestibular System

The Vestibular System

The vestibular system is a set of inner ear structures that provide a sense of balance and spatial orientation. This system is comprised of structures within the labyrinth of the inner ear, including the cochlea and two otolith organs—the utricle and saccule. The labyrinth also contains three semicircular canals—superior, posterior, and horizontal—that are oriented on different planes.

Equilibrium and Balance

Equilibrium and Balance

The inner ear assumes dual functionalities of auditory perception and equilibrium maintenance. The vestibule is the organ responsible for balance. This organ contains mechanoreceptors, specifically hair cells, endowed with stereocilia, which aid in deciphering information regarding the position and motion of our heads. Two intrinsic components, the utricle and saccule, help perceive head position, while the semicircular canals track head movement. Neurological messages initiated in the...

Compensation Mechanisms

Compensation Mechanisms

The human body employs intricate mechanisms to counteract changes in blood pH, preventing conditions like acidosis (pH < 7.35) and alkalosis (pH > 7.45). These compensatory responses aim to restore normal arterial blood pH by engaging respiratory or renal systems, depending on the source of the imbalance.
Respiratory Compensation
This mechanism addresses metabolic-induced pH imbalances by adjusting breathing rates. Respiratory compensation begins within minutes of detecting a pH...

Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology

Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology

Early Ischemia and Ionic ImbalanceWithin minutes of spinal cord injury, a secondary cascade begins, progressing over hours to weeks. Vascular damage reduces blood flow, causing ischemia and mitochondrial dysfunction. ATP depletion leads to ion pump failure, membrane depolarization, sodium influx, potassium efflux, and water accumulation, resulting in cellular swelling. Increased intracellular calcium further disrupts mitochondria and accelerates cellular injury.Excitotoxicity and Neuronal...

Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology

Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology

Spinal cord injury progresses through two interconnected phases: primary injury and secondary injury.Primary InjuryPrimary injury happens at the moment of trauma and involves immediate mechanical damage to the spinal cord.Compression happens when broken vertebrae, herniated discs, or accumulating blood (such as a hematoma) press directly against the spinal cord, distorting its normal shape and function. In cases of contusion, the cord is bruised by a blunt force (like penetrating injuries or...

Disorders of Acid-Base Balance

Disorders of Acid-Base Balance

The human body maintains a precise pH range of arterial blood between 7.35 and 7.45. Deviations result in either acidosis (pH < 7.35) or alkalosis (pH > 7.45). These conditions are further classified as respiratory or metabolic disorders based on their underlying cause.
Respiratory Acidosis and Alkalosis
Respiratory acidosis occurs due to an increase in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide PCO2 in the blood. It often arises from shallow breathing or impaired gas exchange caused by...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

[Quality in the appraisal of head and neck sonography results in university hospitals-a random sample].

HNO·2021

Same author

[Traffic medicine expert opinions in otorhinolaryngology: current aspects].

HNO·2010

Same author

[Special ginkgo extract in cases of vertigo: a systematic review of randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical examinations].

HNO·2006

Same author

[Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials].

HNO·2006

Same author

[Driving ability with vestibulär lesions].

HNO·2002

Same journal

[Preparation for the medical specialist examination : Part 81].

HNO·2026

Same journal

[Otorhinolaryngologic infections in the post-pandemic context: What can we learn from the literature?]

HNO·2026

Same journal

[The digits-in-noise test in audiological cochlear implant aftercare].

HNO·2026

Same journal

[Complications of acute otitis media].

HNO·2026

Same journal

HNO·2026

Same journal

[Facial fillers: evidence base, anatomical principles, materials, risks, techniques, and future perspectives].

HNO·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Using Unidirectional Rotations to Improve Vestibular System Asymmetry in Patients with Vestibular Dysfunction

Using Unidirectional Rotations to Improve Vestibular System Asymmetry in Patients with Vestibular Dysfunction

Published on: August 30, 2019

[Vestibular compensation : basic principles and clinical significance].

¹Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenklinik und Poliklinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU München, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, München, Deutschland. vertigo.hamann@lrz.tum.de

|April 24, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The vestibular system can recover from damage through vestibular compensation, a process crucial for balance. This neuronal recovery is dynamic and influences diagnosis and therapy for vestibular disorders.

More Related Videos

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane

Published on: August 22, 2025

Estimating Vestibular Perceptual Thresholds Using a Six-Degree-Of-Freedom Motion Platform

Estimating Vestibular Perceptual Thresholds Using a Six-Degree-Of-Freedom Motion Platform

Published on: August 4, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Using Unidirectional Rotations to Improve Vestibular System Asymmetry in Patients with Vestibular Dysfunction

Using Unidirectional Rotations to Improve Vestibular System Asymmetry in Patients with Vestibular Dysfunction

Published on: August 30, 2019

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane

Published on: August 22, 2025

Estimating Vestibular Perceptual Thresholds Using a Six-Degree-Of-Freedom Motion Platform

Estimating Vestibular Perceptual Thresholds Using a Six-Degree-Of-Freedom Motion Platform

Published on: August 4, 2022

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Otolaryngology
Physiology

Context:

The vestibular system is essential for balance and spatial orientation.
Functional lesions can impair vestibular system performance.
Vestibular compensation is the nervous system's ability to repair these deficits.

Purpose:

To review the mechanisms, time course, and clinical significance of vestibular compensation.
To explain clinical features of vestibular disorders based on animal and human data.
To highlight the dynamic nature of vestibular compensation and its therapeutic implications.

Summary:

Vestibular compensation relies on balancing neuronal activity between vestibular nuclei, not individual receptor function.
Mechanisms, timing, and clinical relevance of compensation are detailed, drawing from animal models and clinical observations.
Compensation is a fluctuating process, partially effective for static deficits but less so for dynamic ones, impacting treatment strategies.

Impact:

Understanding vestibular compensation mechanisms aids in diagnosing and treating balance disorders.
Recognizing compensation as a dynamic, influenceable process allows for targeted therapeutic interventions.
This review provides insights for managing static and dynamic vestibular disturbances effectively.