vestibular system

(noun)

The sensory system that contributes to balance and the sense of spatial orientation.

Related Terms

Examples of vestibular system in the following topics:

  • Additional Sensory Systems

    • Two additional sensory systems are proprioception (which interprets body position) and the vestibular system (which interprets balance).
    • However, recent advances in science have expanded this canonical list of five sense systems to include two more: proprioception, which is the sense of the positioning of parts of the body; and the vestibular system, which senses gravity and provides balance.
    • The vestibular system is the sensory system that contributes to balance and the sense of spatial orientation.
    • While both the vestibular system and proprioception contribute to the "sense of balance," they have different functions.
    • The vestibular system, together with the cochlea, makes up the workings of the inner ear and provides us with our sense of balance.

  • Audition: Hearing, the Ear, and Sound Localization

    • The human auditory system allows us to perceive and localize sounds in our physical environment.
    • The human auditory system allows the body to collect and interpret sound waves into meaningful messages.
    • The ear is the main sensory organ of the auditory system.
    • Within the cochlea there are three fluid-filled spaces: the tympanic canal, the vestibular canal, and the middle canal.

  • Introduction to Sensation

    • Two other senses, kinesthesia and the vestibular senses, have become widely recognized by scientists.
    • Vestibular senses detect gravity, linear acceleration (such as speeding up or slowing down on a straight road), and rotary acceleration (such as speeding up or slowing down around a curve).
    • Both kinesthesia and the vestibular senses help us to  balance.

  • Introduction to the Nervous System

    • The basic unit of the nervous system is the neuron.
    • The nervous system can be divided into two major parts—the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
    • The peripheral nervous system includes a large system of nerves that are linked to the brain and spinal cord.
    • The PNS can be further subdivided into the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system.
    • The nervous system of the human body, including the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) and all the nerves of the body (peripheral nervous system).

  • The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

    • The peripheral nervous system connects the central nervous system to environmental stimuli to gather sensory input and create motor output.
    • The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is one of the two major components of the body's nervous system.
    • The PNS can also be divided into two separate systems: the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system.
    • This system consists of two complementary parts: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
    • The somatic nervous system controls systems in areas as diverse as the skin, bones, joints, and skeletal muscles.

  • Intro to the Central Nervous System

  • Biology of Emotion

    • The limbic system, autonomic nervous system, and reticular activating system interact in the processing of emotion.
    • The limbic system, autonomic nervous system, and reticular activating system all interact to assist the body in experiencing and processing emotions.
    • The limbic system is the area of the brain most heavily implicated in emotion and memory.
    • The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is part of the peripheral nervous system in humans.
    • The limbic system is the area of the brain involved with emotion and memory.

  • The Central Nervous System (CNS)

    • The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord, which process sensory input and provide instructions to the body.
    • The central nervous system (CNS) is one of the two major subdivisions of the nervous system.
    • Together with the peripheral nervous system (PNS), the CNS performs fundamental functions that contribute to an organism's life and behavior.
    • It houses the nerve centers responsible for coordinating sensory and motor systems in the body.
    • The three major components of the central nervous system: 1) the brain, 2) brain stem, and 3) spinal cord.

  • The Endocrine System

    • The endocrine and nervous systems work together to act as a communication system for the human body.
    • The endocrine system acts as a communication tool within the human body, working in tandem with the nervous system to communicate with the body's other internal systems.
    • Both the nervous and endocrine systems send messages everywhere inside the human body.
    • In the nervous system, signals travel very quickly, leading to instantaneous responses.
    • However, within the endocrine system, signals move slowly but last longer.

  • Development of the Human Brain

    • The mental processes and behaviors studied by psychology are directly controlled by the brain, one of the most complex systems in nature.
    • The human brain is one of the most complex systems on earth.
    • The brain and the spinal cord make up the central nervous system, which alongside the peripheral nervous system is responsible for regulating all bodily functions.
    • Psychology seeks to explain the mental processes and behavior of individuals by studying the interaction between mental processes and behavior on a systemic level.
    • The forebrain is the most anterior division of the developing vertebrate brain, containing the most complex networks in the central nervous system.