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The Vestibular System

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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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Auditory sensation, commonly called hearing, involves the transformation of sonic waves into neural impulses facilitated by the structures of the auditory organ. The prominent, flesh-like structure on the side of the head, called the auricle, directs sound waves towards the auditory canal. The auricle is often mislabeled as the pinna, a term more aligned with mobile structures like a feline's external ear. The auditory canal penetrates the cranium via the external auditory meatus of the...

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Harvest of Vestibular End-Organs under Physiologic Conditions during Labyrinthectomy

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Published on: November 29, 2024

Vestibular system changes in sudden deafness with and without vertigo: a human temporal bone study.

Taro Inagaki¹, Sebahattin Cureoglu, Norimasa Morita

¹Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.

Otology & Neurotology : Official Publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [And] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology

|August 9, 2012

Summary

Sudden deafness with vertigo (SDwV) and without vertigo (SDwoV) show similar vestibular hair cell changes. Extracellular superstructure damage, not cell density, may cause persistent canal paresis in sudden deafness patients.

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Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Published on: January 25, 2016

Area of Science:

Otolaryngology
Neuroscience
Vestibular System Research

Background:

Sudden deafness (SD) can occur with or without vertigo (SDwV/SDwoV).
Persistent canal paresis (CP) is a known complication in SDwV.
The underlying vestibular changes in SDwV versus SDwoV remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To compare vestibular system changes in SDwV and SDwoV.
To identify the cause of persistent CP in SDwV patients.

Main Methods:

Retrospective analysis of temporal bones from affected and control ears.
Morphological examination of the labyrinth, Scarpa's ganglion cells, and vestibular hair cells.
Clinical data and vestibular test results from SD patients were also reviewed.

Main Results:

Affected ears in both SDwV and SDwoV showed cochlear and vestibular organ atrophy, including otoconial membrane changes.
No significant differences in Scarpa's ganglion cell count or vestibular hair cell density were observed between SDwV and SDwoV.
Extracellular superstructure damage, such as deposits on the cupula and peeling otoconial membranes, was noted in affected ears.

Conclusions:

Vestibular hair cell density and Scarpa's ganglion cell numbers do not significantly differ between SDwV and SDwoV.
Damage to the vestibular extracellular superstructure is present in both SDwV and SDwoV.
This extracellular superstructure damage is a potential cause of persistent CP in patients with sudden deafness.