The Vestibular System

The vestibular system developed in order to facilitate an organism’s movement through its environment. The functional organization of this system is a remarkable network of reflexes and behaviors that allow for the stabilization of visual cues during movement, the establishment of posture during resting states (e.g., sitting or standing), and the maintenance of body balance while in motion. This arrangement necessitates interactions among vestibular structures of the inner ear (the semicircular canals and otolith organs ), the ocular motor system, the visual system, the motor control system, as well as proprioceptive input regarding position and movement of the body and limbs. The interplay of these systems allows the individual to accomplish actions ranging from those as seemingly simple as standing still to those as intricately controlled as figure skating or gymnastics, and everything in-between.