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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...

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 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

The 2D modified head impulse test: a 2D technique for measuring function in all six semi-circular canals.

Americo A Migliaccio¹, Phillip D Cremer

¹Neuroscience Research Australia and the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. a.migliaccio@neura.edu.au

Journal of Vestibular Research : Equilibrium & Orientation

|August 18, 2011

Summary

A modified head impulse test using 2D eye measurements can effectively assess all six semicircular canals. This approach is as accurate as 3D techniques for diagnosing vestibular hypofunction.

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

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Last Updated: May 30, 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

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:

Vestibular Neuroscience
Ophthalmology
Audiology

Background:

The head impulse test (HIT) traditionally assesses peripheral vestibular function.
Measuring vertical semicircular canal function requires detecting large vertical and torsional eye movements.
Three-dimensional (3D) eye-tracking is typically needed for these measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine if 2D eye measurements with a modified HIT can assess all six semicircular canals.
To compare the efficacy of 2D versus 3D eye-tracking for vestibular function assessment.

Main Methods:

Compared a traditional HIT with a modified 2D HIT using single-coil technique.
Measured individual canal function in patients with unilateral hypofunction (n=5) and controls (n=4).
Utilized the 3D dual-coil scleral search coil technique as the gold standard.

Main Results:

Both 2D and 3D techniques detected similar levels of asymmetrical function in patients.
Both methods accurately identified canals with hypofunction.
No significant difference in accuracy between the 2D and 3D techniques was observed.

Conclusions:

2D eye measurement techniques, including video pupil-tracking, are sufficient for testing all six semicircular canals.
A modified 2D HIT can reliably assess peripheral vestibular function.
This simplifies vestibular testing, making it more accessible.