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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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Testing of all Six Semicircular Canals with Video Head Impulse Test Systems

Testing of all Six Semicircular Canals with Video Head Impulse Test Systems

Published on: April 18, 2019

Impulsive testing of semicircular-canal function using video-oculography.

Konrad P Weber¹, Hamish G MacDougall, G Michael Halmagyi

¹Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

|August 4, 2009

Summary

The new video-oculography system (vHIT) accurately measures the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) during head impulses. This advanced technique detects subtle eye movements missed by the naked eye, improving diagnosis of vestibular loss.

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Three Dimensional Vestibular Ocular Reflex Testing Using a Six Degrees of Freedom Motion Platform

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Testing of all Six Semicircular Canals with Video Head Impulse Test Systems

Testing of all Six Semicircular Canals with Video Head Impulse Test Systems

Published on: April 18, 2019

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

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Published on: August 22, 2025

Three Dimensional Vestibular Ocular Reflex Testing Using a Six Degrees of Freedom Motion Platform

Three Dimensional Vestibular Ocular Reflex Testing Using a Six Degrees of Freedom Motion Platform

Published on: May 23, 2013

Area of Science:

Neurology
Ophthalmology
Vestibular System Diagnostics

Background:

The bedside Head Impulse Test (HIT) assesses horizontal semicircular-canal function.
Overt catch-up saccades indicate canal paresis in peripheral vestibular loss.
Covert saccades during head rotation are often missed, leading to misdiagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce a novel video-oculography (vHIT) system for measuring horizontal semicircular-canal function.
To provide an objective and practical method for assessing the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR).

Main Methods:

Development of a lightweight, high-speed video-oculography (vHIT) system.
Measurement of eye velocity during horizontal head impulses.
Comparison with the limitations of naked-eye HIT assessment.

Main Results:

The vHIT system provides an objective measure of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR).
This system effectively detects both overt and covert catch-up saccades.
vHIT offers a practical solution for routine clinical use, unlike scleral search coils.

Conclusions:

The vHIT system is a valuable tool for accurately assessing horizontal semicircular-canal function.
It enhances diagnostic capabilities for peripheral vestibular loss by detecting all saccade types.
vHIT offers a practical, objective, and reliable alternative for bedside vestibular assessment.