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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: Feb 20, 2026

Author Spotlight: Developing Low-Tech Balance Assessment Methods for Broad-Spectrum Healthcare Applications

Author Spotlight: Developing Low-Tech Balance Assessment Methods for Broad-Spectrum Healthcare Applications

Published on: September 1, 2023

Prototype tests of vertical and torsional alignment nulling for screening vestibular function.

M C Schubert¹, J Stitz², H S Cohen³

¹Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Journal of Vestibular Research : Equilibrium & Orientation

|October 25, 2017

Summary

A new tablet-based test effectively identifies ocular alignment issues in patients with vestibular disorders. The torsional alignment nulling test (TAN) showed significant differences between patients and healthy controls, suggesting its clinical potential.

Keywords:

Utricle saccule spatial orientation vestibular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials

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Last Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Author Spotlight: Developing Low-Tech Balance Assessment Methods for Broad-Spectrum Healthcare Applications

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Published on: September 1, 2023

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

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Published on: May 23, 2013

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

Area of Science:

Ophthalmology
Neurology
Vestibular Science

Background:

Developed a non-invasive, tablet-based system for behavioral measurement of ocular alignment.
Utilized colored lenses and touchscreen software for the assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate if novel ocular alignment tests can distinguish healthy individuals from patients with vestibular disorders.
Assessed the diagnostic potential of the vertical alignment nulling test (VAN) and torsional alignment nulling test (TAN).

Main Methods:

Subjects adjusted lines in vertical (VAN) and torsional (TAN) dimensions on a computer tablet.
Tested 14 healthy controls and 8 patients diagnosed with vestibular disorders.

Main Results:

Patients with vestibular disorders performed significantly worse on the TAN compared to controls (p=0.01).
No significant difference was observed between groups for the VAN (p=0.07).

Conclusions:

The TAN shows promise for detecting ocular misalignments in vestibular disorders.
Further development could enable VAN and TAN to serve as screening tools in clinical settings lacking specialized vestibular testing equipment.