Health Information
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Understanding This Symptom
Medical Definition
Subject Matter Expert Verified
Vertigo is a specific form of dizziness characterized by the false sensation of spinning or rotational movement, resulting from dysfunction in the vestibular system.
It is distinct from general lightheadedness or disequilibrium and indicates asymmetry or dysfunction in the inner ear balance organs (vestibular apparatus), vestibular nerve, or central vestibular pathways.
Common causes include Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, Meniere's disease, and labyrinthitis, each with distinct pathophysiological mechanisms affecting the semicircular canals, otolith organs, or cochlea.
Quick Facts
What Optimal Health Looks Like
Understanding how your body functions when healthy helps identify dysfunction
In a healthy individual, the vestibular system maintains precise balance through integrated input from three semicircular canals (horizontal, anterior, and posterior) that detect angular acceleration, and two otolith organs (utricle and saccule) that detect linear acceleration and head position relative to gravity.
The vestibular nerve transmits this information to the vestibular nuclei in the brainstem, which coordinate with the cerebellum for motor control, visual system for gaze stabilization, and proprioceptive pathways for spatial awareness.
Normal vestibular function allows automatic postural adjustments, smooth pursuit eye movements, and the ability to maintain gaze during head movements through the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR).
The brainstem integrates these signals and compensates for asymmetric input within days of any temporary disruption.
Healthy Function
Your body is designed to maintain balance and self-regulate
How This Develops
Vertigo results from asymmetric vestibular input to the brain causing inappropriate activation of the vestibulo-ocular reflex and abnormal spatial perception.
In BPPV, calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) dislodge from the utricle and migrate into the semicircular canals, most commonly the posterior canal, causing inappropriate endolymph movement when head position changes relative to gravity.
In vestibular neuritis, inflammation of the vestibular nerve (typically from viral infection) disrupts sensory transmission from the inner ear, creating a sudden asymmetric loss of vestibular input.
In labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis with cochlear involvement, both vestibular and auditory structures are affected.
Meniere's disease involves endolymphatic hydrops (excess endolymph) causing periodic distension of the membranous labyrinth, leading to episodic vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness.
Understanding the mechanism helps us target the root cause rather than just treating symptoms.
What Happens If Left Untreated
Understanding the consequences helps you make informed decisions about your health
Short-Term Consequences
Days to weeks
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Time Matters
Don't wait for symptoms to worsen. Early intervention leads to better outcomes.