Influence of Random Vibration on Semicircular Canals During Exposure to Whole Body Vibrations

Abstract

Vibrations and vehicles reduce the comfort of drivers and passengers, causing stress, fatigue and discomfort. Chronic exposure to whole body vibration can affect the lumbar spine, the gastrointestinal system, the peripheral veins and the vestibular system. Until recently, it was possible to study the semicircular canals geometry only in cadaveric specimens, but now, with the development of high-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, it has become possible to mathematically model their geometry. The semicircular canals (SCC), as a part of vestibular system, are responsible for sensing angular head motion in three-dimensional space and for providing neural inputs to the central nervous system. In this study, one male subject was exposed to root-mean-square WBV acceleration level of 0.8 m/s2 while seated on an electrohydraulic vibration simulator with multi-axial excitation. The movements recorded on the head of the examinee were transferred to a 3D model. Numerical analysis provides fluid velocity generated in semicircular canals.