Vertigo through the inner ear

Synonyms

dizziness, vertigo, inner ear, vestibular apparatus

Disturbance of balance and dizziness

Since the vertigo triggered by the inner ear is always due to a disturbance of the vestibular organ, it is quite normal that the sense of balance is usually affected by vertigo. The human sense of balance works through the cooperation of many centers involved. Especially the coordination of the inner ear and the sense of sight together with the information of the body sensation is essential for a functioning sense of balance.

The information from these centers is then processed by the brain and the necessary movement is calculated, for example to avoid falling over on a swaying ship. If one of the centers involved is now disturbed, as in the case of vertigo in the inner ear, the brain can no longer bring the information together in a meaningful way. Since both inner ears only together provide meaningful information about the position of the head in space, a disturbance of the inner ear makes it appear to us as if the world were constantly in motion, even though we are standing still. The brain cannot combine this information and the balance is disturbed.

Causes

A so-called directional vertigo (often rotational vertigo) is usually due to a cause in the inner ear. This is where our organ of equilibrium (vestibular organ) is located, which is why vertigo through the inner ear is also called vestibular vertigo. The most common form is the benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo, which is caused by small, loose crystals in the inner ear.

Meniére’s disease can also cause dizziness in the inner ear. Likewise, an inflammation of the inner ear can lead to dizziness symptoms. Other causes, such as perilymph fistula, occur much less frequently.

Crystals in the inner ear – Positional vertigo

The so-called otolith crystals play a very important role in the development of dizziness, especially in benign postural vertigo. These are part of the organ of balance in the middle ear. The middle ear itself is filled with a liquid.

The otoliths crystals lie in this liquid on a dome like organ. If the human being carries out any form of movement, for example, forward or backward, up or down, it happens that the dome-like organs with the crystals are deflected and thus register a movement. This movement is then transmitted to the brain and processed there.

Now it can happen by external causes or simply in old age that the otoliths crystals detach from their actual place. The problem here is not that the crystals are missing in place, but that they then get into the adjacent arcade organ. This organ, whose task it is to register rotary movements, is now disturbed by the freely floating crystals and sends illogical signals to the brain.

This is how the benign paroxysmal positional vertigo develops. With the help of the positioning maneuvers, it is now possible to remove the crystals from the archway and thus eliminate the cause of the vertigo in the head. Loose crystals in the inner ear can cause benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

The crystals are naturally already in the inner ear, but are stuck in different places. Sudden rapid movement can cause one or more of these crystals to become loose, allowing them to move freely in the inner ear. The movement of such a crystal in the inner ear causes movements in the organ of equilibrium that do not correspond to the movements of the rest of the body. As a result, the brain receives different signals and reacts with the symptom dizziness. As a rule, the dizziness caused by the crystals in the inner ear disappears as soon as the crystals have reattached themselves and are no longer able to move freely.