The origins of vestibular science

The vestibular system conveys information about body motion and gravity. It was one of the first sensory systems to emerge in evolution; however, it was also the last to be discovered. The causal relationship between diseases of the ear and the symptom of vertigo was not recognized until the mid-19th century. Only a few years later, the basic principle of semicircular canal function was elucidated almost simultaneously by three scientists with completely different backgrounds. This historical review describes the major milestones in the discoveries of the anatomy and the physiology of the vestibular system that paved the way for the establishment of neurotology as a clinical subspecialty.