The Vestibular System

Anatomy of the Vestibular System.

Having often mentioned my daughters weakened Vestibular System I thought it a good idea to perhaps explain what this system is and how it helps us.  Having discovered her weaknesses has helped unveil some of mine and make the changes necessary for strengthening my already weakened system. 
Do you ever feel your feet are not quite on the ground, or life becomes one big sensory overload?  You perhaps cant always find the appropriate words to express yourself or an idea.  You are basically just functioning on auto pilot!

"The vestibular system in the brain does more than just allow us to stand upright, maintain balance and move through space.  It coordinates information from the vestibular organs in the inner ear, the eyes, muscles and joints, fingertips and palms of the hands, pressors on the soles of the feet, jaw, and gravity receptors on the skin and adjusts heart rate and blood pressure, muscle tone, limb position, immune responses, arousal and balance.

Dysfunctions in the vestibular system can cause anxiety or panic attacks, a need for self-stimulation, abnormalities in muscle tone, difficulty defecating, teeth grinding and chin tapping, hand flapping, academic problems, drooling, etc. Exercises that activate a wide range of inputs to the vestibular system have been found to be effective in reducing or eliminating vestibular problems. The ability to maintain balance depends on information that the brain receives from three different sources: the eyes, the muscles and joints, and the vestibular organs in the inner ears. All three of these sources send information in the form of nerve impulses from sensory receptors, special nerve endings, to your brain.

When the vestibular apparatus on both sides of the head are functioning properly, they send symmetrical impulses to the brain. That is, the impulses coming from the right side conform to the impulses coming from the left side.

 

For more information go to: www.braintraining.com

Image:  google images