Assessing morphology and function of the semicircular duct system: introducing new in-situ visualization and software toolbox

R. David; A. Stoessel; A. Berthoz; F. Spoor; D. Bennequin

doi:10.1038/srep32772

journal article Open Access Sep 08, 2016

Assessing morphology and function of the semicircular duct system: introducing new in-situ visualization and software toolbox

R. David A. Stoessel A. Berthoz F. Spoor D. Bennequin

Scientific Reports Vol. 6 No. 1 · Springer Science and Business Media LLC

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Abstract

AbstractThe semicircular duct system is part of the sensory organ of balance and essential for navigation and spatial awareness in vertebrates. Its function in detecting head rotations has been modelled with increasing sophistication, but the biomechanics of actual semicircular duct systems has rarely been analyzed, foremost because the fragile membranous structures in the inner ear are hard to visualize undistorted and in full. Here we present a new, easy-to-apply and non-invasive method for three-dimensionalin-situvisualization and quantification of the semicircular duct system, using X-ray micro tomography and tissue staining with phosphotungstic acid. Moreover, we introduce Ariadne, a software toolbox which provides comprehensive and improved morphological and functional analysis of any visualized duct system. We demonstrate the potential of these methods by presenting results for the duct system of humans, the squirrel monkey and the rhesus macaque, making comparisons with past results from neurophysiological, oculometric and biomechanical studies. Ariadne is freely available athttp://www.earbank.org.

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Published: Sep 08, 2016
Vol/Issue: 6(1)
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Cite This Article

R. David, A. Stoessel, A. Berthoz, et al. (2016). Assessing morphology and function of the semicircular duct system: introducing new in-situ visualization and software toolbox. Scientific Reports, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep32772

Assessing morphology and function of the semicircular duct system: introducing new in-situ visualization and software toolbox

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