IFH 3-4

YAW ROLL YAW PITCH PITCH ROLLEardrumEustachian tubeBoneEar canalBoneEar canalEardrumEustachian tube The semicircular tubes are arranged at approximately right angles to each other, in the roll, pitch, and yaw axes. Figure 3-4. Angular acceleration and the semicircular tubes. Saccule Semicircular canals Utricle Cochlea Tubular ducts containing endolymph Ampullae Semicircular canals Endolymph fluid Cupola Filaments of hair cells Hair cells Vestibular nerve Ampulla of a semicircular canal Cupola Sensory hairs Otolith organ Vestibular nerve The motion sensing system is located in each inner ear in the approximate position shown. Figure 3-3. Inner ear orientation. Ears The inner ear has two major parts concerned with orientation: the semicircular canals and the otolith organs. [Figure 3-3] The semicircular canals detect angular acceleration of the body, while the otolith organs detect linear acceleration and gravity. The semicircular canals consist of three tubes at approximate right angles to each other, each located on one of three axes: pitch, roll, or yaw as illustrated in Figure 3-4. Each canal is filled with a fluid called endolymph fluid. In the center of the canal is the cupola, a gelatinous structure that rests upon sensory hairs located at the end of the vestibular nerves. It is the movement of these hairs within the fluid that causes sensations of motion. Because of the friction between the fluid and the canal, it may take about 15–20 seconds for the fluid in the ear canal to reach the same speed as the canal’s motion. To illustrate what happens during a turn, visualize the aircraft in straight-and-level flight. With no acceleration of the aircraft, the hair cells are upright, and the body senses that no turn has occurred. Therefore, the position of the hair cells and the actual sensation correspond. Placing the aircraft into a turn puts the semicircular canal and its fluid into motion, with the fluid within the semicircular canal lagging behind the accelerated canal walls. [Figure 3-5] This lag creates a relative movement of the fluid within the canal. The canal wall and the cupula move in the opposite direction from the motion of the fluid. The brain interprets the movement of the hairs to be a turn in the same direction as the canal wall. The body correctly senses that a turn is being made. If the turn continues at a constant rate for several seconds or longer, the motion of the fluid in