Citation

Goyens J, Aerts P. Bioinspir. Biomim. 2019; 14(5): 056004.

Affiliation

Universiteit Antwerpen Faculteit Wetenschappen, Antwerpen, BELGIUM.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Institute of Physics Publishing)

DOI

10.1088/1748-3190/ab2cbf

PMID

31239423

Abstract

Head accelerations are sensed by the vestibular system in the inner ear. Linear accelerations stimulate the otolith organs, while the semicircular canals sense angular accelerations. Fluid-Structure Interaction models of the cupula sensor (simulated with Finite Element Method) and the endolymph fluid (simulated with Computational Fluid Dynamics) in the semicircular canal offer the possibility to investigate why the semicircular canals are not stimulated by linear accelerations. Two hypotheses exist in the literature. The first hypothesis focusses on the density of the cupula sensor in the semicircular canals, while the second is based on the continuous loop of fluid in the semicircular canal. However, increasing the cupula density, nor disrupting the continuous fluid circulation substantially increase the cupula deformation under linear head acceleration, thereby rejecting both existing hypotheses. We propose an alternative hypothesis, based on the circular geometry of the semicircular canal. During angular head acceleration, the cupula intersects the body of endolymph and "pushes" it forward because the cupula seals the semicircular canal like a diaphragm. This results in cupula deflection and neural stimulation. During linear head acceleration, on the other hand, a large part of the canal wall also "pushes" the endolymph forward, which leads to hardly any cupula deflection.

© 2019 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

Fluid-Structure Interaction; angular acceleration; balance; cupula; otolith organ; vestibular system