BACKGROUND: The aqeductus vestibuli (aqueduct) is believed to connect to the saccule in embryos and adults. However, in embryos, the saccule and utricle are known to communicate widely to provide a common endolymph space \"atrium\".
METHODS: Using sagittal histological sections from five embryos (crown-rump length or CRL, 14-21 mm), nine early fetuses (CRL 24-35 mm) and 12 midterm and near-term fetuses (CRL 82-272 mm), we revisited the development and growth of the human ear aqueduct.
RESULTS: The atrium took on a thick tube-like appearance as an antero-inferior continuation of the aqueduct, but soon divided into multiple gulfs. Most of the gulfs corresponded to the ampullae of semicircular ducts, while one gulf at the antero-medio-inferior corner corresponded to the future saccule. Notably, in eight of the 14 embryos and early fetuses, the aqueduct ended at the utricle near the primitive ampulla of the anterior (superior) or posterior semicircular duct. Conversely, an embryo of CRL 21 mm was the smallest specimen in which the aqueduct joined the gulf-like saccule. At midterm and near-term, the growing perilymph space separated the aqueduct from the utricle and appeared to push the aqueduct toward the saccule. A topographical change occurred between the embryonic superiorly located utricle and the inferiorly-located saccule to create the antero-posterior arrangement in adults.
CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, the vestibular end of the aqueduct was most likely to migrate anteriorly from the utricle to the saccule at 6-8 weeks possibly due to differential growth of the endothelium. Previous reconstructions of the embryonic aqueduct might be biased by the adult morphology.

Vestibular neuritis (VN) can affect utricular afferents. Utricular function can be assessed by ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMPs) whose abnormalities include weak or absent responses, and ocular cycloposition whose abnormalities include ocular torsion (OT). When studied independently in vestibular neuritis, oVEMPs are abnormal in 61-82% of cases, and OT is present in 72-80% of cases. The similar range of abnormalities suggests the hypothesis that these tests should be concordantly abnormal. We tested this hypothesis by identifying consecutive adult cases of VN in whom both oVEMPs and OT were performed. OT and oVEMP overlapped (both were abnormal) in only 47% of cases. In 40% of cases oVEMPs alone were abnormal, and in 13% of cases, OT alone was present. These results suggest that oVEMPs and OT assess different aspects of utricular function believed to arise from discrete zones of the utricular macula; the former are thought to reflect the activity of extra-striolar afferents (which detect constant acceleration), and the latter reflects the activity of striolar afferents (which detect change in acceleration).

BACKGROUND: The anatomy of the membranous labyrinth within the vestibule has direct implications for surgical intervention. The anatomy of the otoliths has been studied, but there is limited information regarding their supporting connective tissue structures such as the membrana limitans in humans.
METHODS: One guinea pig and 17 cadaveric human temporal bones were scanned using micro computed tomography, after staining with 2 per cent osmium tetroxide and preservation with Karnovsky\'s solution, with a resolution from 1 µm to 55 µm. The data were analysed using VGStudio Max software, rendered in three-dimensions and published in augmented reality.
RESULTS: In 50 per cent of ears, the membrana limitans attached directly to the postero-superior part of the stapes footplate. If attachments were present in one ear, they were present bilaterally in 100 per cent of cases.
CONCLUSIONS: Micro computed tomography imaging allowed three-dimensional assessment of the inner ear. Such assessments are important as they influence the surgical intervention and the evolution of future innovations.

Objective: To study the shift of oVEMP frequency tuning of unilateral Meniere\'s disease, by analyzing oVEMP of air-conducted tone bursts in various frequencies. Methods: From May 2016 to October 2017, 33 patients with unilateral Meniere\'s from Aerospace Center Hospital were tested for oVEMP in 500 Hz and 1 000 Hz air-conducted tone bursts respectively, and 20 healthy subjects(40 ears), matched for age and sex, were used as healthy control. The amplitudes of the N1-P1 wave and the frequency amplitude ratios of 500/1 000 Hz in affected ears, unaffected ears and normal ears were compared; and receiver operating characteristic curve was analyzed for frequency amplitude ratios of 500/1 000 Hz. Results: By the 500 Hz tone-burst stimulus, the provocation rates of the oVEMP were 84.9%(28/33), 93.9%(31/33) and 97.5%(39/40) in affected ears, contralateral ears and the ears of normal controls, respectively. By the stimulus of 1 000 Hz tone-burst, the provocation rates of the oVEMP were 81.8%(27/33), 87.9%(29/33) and 82.5% (33/40) in affected ears, contralateral ears and normal control ears, respectively. Amplitudes of N1-P1 waveforms in 500 Hz air-conducted tone bursts in affected ears were under normal control ears and contralateral ears. There was significant difference between affected ears and healthy control ears (P<0.05). Amplitudes of N1-P1 waveforms in contralateral ears were also significantly smaller than those in normal control ears (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in amplitudes of N1-P1 waveforms between affected ears, contralateral ears and normal control ears in 1 000 Hz tone bursts stimulus(P>0.05). Frequency amplitude ratios of 500/1 000 Hz in affected ears were significantly under contralateral and normal control ears (P<0.05). According to ROC, the frequency amplitude ratio critical value of frequency tuning was set as 1.17, the positive rate of frequency tuning shift in affected ears was 54.5%(18/33) and significantly higher than in contralateral ears(18.2%, 6/33, χ(2)=9.429, P=0.002) and normal control ears (7.5%, 3/40, χ(2)=19.530, P=0.000). In contrast, there was no significant difference in the incidence of frequency tuning shift between contralateral ears and normal ears(χ(2)=1.909, P=0.167). Conclusions: Frequency tuning oVEMP with Meniere\'s disease will be changed.Frequency tuning of oVEMP with Meniere\'s disease shifts from low frequency region to high frequency region in comparison with healthy people. Frequency amplitude ratio is helpful for diagnosis of Meniere\'s disease.
目的： 通过分析单侧梅尼埃病患者不同频率气导短纯音诱发的眼性前庭诱发肌源性电位(oVEMP)，探讨梅尼埃病oVEMP频率调谐变化的特点。 方法： 研究对象为2016年5月至2017年10月33例在航天中心医院确诊为单侧梅尼埃病的患者，其中男11例、女22例，年龄35～65岁(中位年龄51岁)。同期20名健康人(40耳)作为对照，男7名、女13名，年龄29～68岁(中位年龄50岁)。分别以500 Hz及1 000 Hz气导短纯音作为刺激声，对受试者进行oVEMP的检测。使用SPSS 22.0统计软件对梅尼埃病患者患侧耳、对侧耳及健康组对照耳oVEMP的N1－P1波振幅及500/1 000 Hz频率振幅比进行比较分析，并对500/1 000 Hz频率振幅比进行受试者工作特征(receiver operating characteristic, ROC)曲线分析。 结果： 500 Hz的气导短纯音刺激下，梅尼埃病患者患耳、对侧耳以及健康受试者对照耳oVEMP的引出率分别为84.9%(28/33)、93.9%(31/33)和97.5%(39/40)；1 000 Hz短纯音刺激下，患耳、对侧耳及对照耳oVEMP的引出率分别为81.8%(27/33)、87.9%(29/33)和82.5%(33/40)。500 Hz短纯音刺激条件下，单侧梅尼埃病患者中患耳N1－P1波的振幅低于对侧耳及对照耳，与对照耳相比，差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)，对侧耳N1－P1波的振幅小于对照耳，差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。1 000 Hz短纯音刺激条件下，患侧耳及对侧耳与对照耳的N1－P1波振幅值组间比较，差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。患侧耳500/1 000 Hz的频率振幅比明显小于对侧耳及对照耳(P<0.05)。频率调谐变化的频率振幅比临界值为1.17，在患耳中频率调谐变化的发生率为54.5%(18/33)，显著高于对侧耳(18.2%，6/33，χ(2)＝9.429，P＝0.002)和健康对照耳(7.5%，3/40，χ(2)＝19.530，P＝0.000)；对侧耳中也存在频率调谐变化，但与对照耳相比，差异无统计学意义(χ(2)＝1.909，P＝0.167)。 结论： 梅尼埃病患者oVEMP频率调谐特点发生了改变，表现出向高频区迁移的现象，oVEMP的频率振幅比可有助于梅尼埃病的病情评估。.

Objective: To evaluate the data of unilateral centrifugation subjective visual vertical (UC-SVV) in healthy young people.To study the function of utricle. Methods: Between Decem ber 2017 and May 2018, thirty-two healthy young volunteers were tested by static subjective visual vertical(SVV) and low velocity UC-SVV with Neuro Kinetics Inc I-portal 6.0 Video nystagmus recording system and NOTC rotating chair system.The static SVV preset angle were -15.00°, 15.00°, -20.00°, 20.00°, -12.00° and 12.00° respectively.UC-SVV test parameters: rotating chair\'s peak speed was 60°/s.The shift time from the middle to the lateral position was 30 s and the displacement was 3.85 cm.The chair rotated at 60 s at left, right and middle positions.Subjects underwent SVV during this period.SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the data. Results: The mean and standard deviation of static SVV deviation in 32 volunteers was 0.21°±0.17°, 95%CI (-0.14°, 0.55°). The mean and standard deviation of UC-SVV in the left, middle and right positions of the clockwise was 0.24°±0.25°, -0.10°±0.27°, -0.63°±0.26°, 95%CI(-0.26°, 0.74°), (-0.65°, 0.44°), (-1.16°, -0.10°). The mean and standard deviation of UC-SVV in the left, middle and right positions of the counter clockwise was 0.03°±0.27°, -0.11°±0.26°, -0.23°±0.26°, 95%CI(-0.52°, 0.59°), (-0.65°, 0.42°), (-0.76°, 0.30°). There was significant difference in the deviation between the left and the right side of counter clockwise rotation of UC-SVV(t=2.432, P<0.05), however, there was no significant difference in the angle of deviation between the left and right sides and the median position(t value was 0.951, -1.400, both P>0.05). There was no significant difference among each position in clockwise rotation of UC-SVV(F=0.253, P>0.05). Conclusion: UC-SVV test with peak speed of 60°/s can cause vertical line deviation in the left and right lateral position, but the angle is small and the value of clinical application is limited.
目的： 探讨健康青年人单边离心主观视觉垂直线相关参数(unilateral centrifugation subjective visual vertical，UC－SVV)，以期对椭圆囊功能进行更深入的探究。 方法： 2017年12月至2018年5月，采用美国Neuro Kinetics Inc I－Portal 6.0视频眼震记录系统、NOTC转移系统对天津市第一中心医院32名健康青年志愿者进行静态主观视觉垂直线及低速UC－SVV测试。志愿者中男性13名，女性19名；年龄20～32岁，中位年龄23岁。静态主观视觉垂直线预设角度为：－15.00°、15.00°、－20.00°、20.00°、－12.00°、12.00°。UC－SVV测试参数：转椅经10 s匀加速旋转达峰速60°/s后开始向侧位平移，平移时间30 s，位移3.85 cm，在左右侧位及中间位匀速旋转60 s。受试者在两侧位及中间位分别行UC－SVV测试，记录偏斜角度。以SPSS 17.0软件进行统计学分析。 结果： 32名志愿者静态主观视觉垂直线偏斜角度为0.21°±0.17°(x±s，下同)，95%CI为－0.14°～0.55°。逆时针及顺时针UC－SVV左、中、右三个位置的偏斜角度为0.24°±0.25°、－0.10°±0.27°、－0.63°±0.26°，0.03°±0.27°、－0.11°±0.26°、－0.23°±0.26°；95%CI为－0.26°～0.74°、－0.65°～0.44°、－1.16°～－0.10°，－0.52°～0.59°、－0.65°～0.42°、－0.76°～0.30°。逆时针旋转UC－SVV左侧位与右侧位偏斜角度差异有统计学意义(t＝2.432，P<0.05)，左右侧位与中间位偏斜角度差异无统计学意义(t值分别为0.951、－1.400，P值均>0.05)。顺时针旋转UC－SVV各位置间偏斜角度差异均无统计学意义(F＝0.253，P>0.05)。 结论： 峰速为60°/s的UC－SVV测试在侧位可引起垂直线角度偏斜，但倾斜角度较小，临床实用价值有限。.

Subjective visual vertical (SVV) is a simple, quick and reliable test for measuring utricular function. The literature on the effects of fundamental demographic variables such as age and gender on SVV is inconclusive and should be supported by research with larger samples. The aim of the present study was to determine the influences of age, gender and geometric pattern of visual image on SVV among healthy adults.
This study employed a repeated measures design.
Otorhinolaryngology Clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia.
Eligible Malaysian adults (N = 187, aged 21-75 years) were recruited and categorised into young (N = 60), middle-aged (N = 66) and older (N = 61) groups. Most of them were Malay, and 51.3% were men.
Subjective visual vertical angles (in degrees) were determined from each participant in a static upright condition using a computerised SVV device. They were asked to indicate their verticality perception for three types of visual images (solid line, dotted line and arrow pattern).
Three-way mixed ANOVA revealed insignificant influences of age and gender on SVV results (P > 0.05). In contrast, mean SVV angles were significantly higher for the arrow pattern than for other visual images (P = 0.004).
While the insignificant influences of age and gender on static SVV are further ascertained with larger samples, the perception of verticality is less accurate when aligning a more geometrically complex visual image (ie, arrow pattern). Further SVV research on vestibular-disordered patients is beneficial, particularly to verify the normative data obtained with this complex visual image.