That sounds righ to me Chris. I can add that the (in terms which I hope are
appropriate) semi-circular canals' rate-of-turn and rate-of-climb sensors
are integrated with the auto-pilot, and issue commands to the control
surfaces. And if one or more of the canals are contaminated with solid
matter canaliths), the measured flows in the liquid will be many times
greater than normal, leading to commensurately great adjustments to the
controls. In the experience one such sufferer, turning the head in a
particular direction while standing was interpreted as a fall to the left,
causing an immediate relaxation of the right leg muscles, and a pretty
sudden fall to the right. An 'interesting' experience. As was the cure
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Vertigo_benig
n_paroxysmal_positional_vertigo?OpenDocument
--
Piers
-----Original Message-----
From: olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Chris Barker
Sent: 20 November 2004 17:30
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [OM] Re: Level photography ;-), was [photo] Fall Mist
--snip
the inner ear's balance mechanism has not measure of gravity per se, by my
understanding. It is possible I have forgotten something over the years,
but my aeromedical training (grand name for survival skils in the air)
mentioned the semi-circular canals, the fluid that they contain and the tiny
hairs which bend with the fluid's movement as the head moves - measured in 3
axes. In this way you can feel movement from a position; once the fluid
stops moving you have reached a new starting point for movement. But there
is nothing to tell you which way is up except for other cues: visual,
external feel and of course the way your bloo's pressure feels in your head
(if you are inverted the blood rushes to your head). Tell me if I'm wrong,
because I need to know these things! ;-)
A diagram is at this url: http://oto.wustl.edu/cochlea/intro1.htm
Chris
--snip
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