The Role of Perilymph in the Response of the Semicircular Canals to Angular Acceleration

Abstract

A new model for the response of the sernicircular canals to angular motion is postulated. This model is based on evidence that the bony canal is not compartmentalized and assumes that the ampulla wall is highly flexible. It is shown that the perilymph induces a cupula displacement far greater than that produced by the endo-lymph alone. The predicted dynamic behavior of the canals on the basis of this model is found to be consistent with experimental observations.