There are 3 main parts to your balance system,
- The Vestibular System
- Vision (eyes)
- Proprioceptive System (proh-pree-oh-SEP-tiv)
The major component regulating your balance is the vestibular system, which is located in your inner ears. The vestibular system consists of the three semicircular canals, the saccule and the utricle.
This part of your inner ears continuously senses gravity and both straight and curved movement.
The vestibular structures contain thousands of tiny hair cells that generate and relay balance signals to your brain.
The second component of your balance system is your eyes (ocular system). Your eyes see both your position in
space and movement.
The final component of your balance system is the proprioceptive (proh-pree-oh-SEP-tiv) system.
Your proprioceptive system uses special pressure sensors in your muscles, tendons and joints to
sense gravity and joint position. Most of your proprioceptive sensors are in your feet and leg joints.
