[The structure and function of the semicircular canals]

Abstract

This review discusses present-day concepts concerning the structure and function of semicircular canals of the vestibular apparatus. It is indicated that the data available today about the function of semicircular canals suggest that they should be considered as a system with distributed parameters and that particular attention should be given not only to canal-canal interaction but also to canal-otolith interaction. A special section is allowed for the discussion of an agreement between mathematical description of the behavior of semicircular canals and experimental data. This work is of theoretical and practical importance and can help clarify the potential role of semicircular canals in the development of space motion sickness.