Balance

The vestibular system (VS) is the main component of the nervous system responsible for sustaining equilibrium and balance. It is a sensory system which relays are termed as ‘special proprioception’. The VS is included in the detection of the static position of the head and also its deceleration, acceleration, and rotational movements. Additionally, the VS coordinate movements of the head with movements of the eyes, trunk, and limbs through vestibulo-ocular and vestibulo-spinal projections in the central nervous system (CNS). Accordingly, dysfunction of the VS results in a multitude of clinical signs elaborating its wide-spread integration in normal neurological function. Critical to a consideration of the disease processes affect the VS is knowledge of ordinary vestibular neuro-anatomy and neurophysiology.