Why do we get dizzy when we spin? Due to ears?

You must have felt this as a child; spin yourself for a few seconds and then stop suddenly, and you will get dizzy. We will feel like we are still spinning, and sometimes we may also stumble. So, the question may arise: Why do we get dizzy when we spin?

In this article, we will try to discover its cause and the organ responsible for it. But let me give you a hint: It is actually our ears. Yes, it is the ears that make us feel dizzy when we spin. Let us find out how.

Why do we get dizzy when we spin

This feeling of dizziness also happens immediately after the roller coaster ride. But do you know why this happens? Which organ of our body is responsible for it?

Our ears do more than just listen; they also balance our body. Observe the beauty of our body and how wonderfully we balance ourselves when standing on a small two-foot base of support.

Not only this, but we also balance ourselves when we run, when we Jog, when we perform any acrobatic activities, and when we dance. This is all because our ear contains a special organ that helps us to detect our motion and maintain balance.

Let us get deeper into it.

Internal ear anatomy

Our internal ear consists of a unique fluid-filled organ called the semicircular canal, situated just on the inner side of the eardrum.

Three semicircular canals, all placed in three axes of the 3 dimensions.

• Horizontal semicircular canal.
• Posterior semicircular canal.
• Superior semicircular canal.

Millions of tiny hairs line the internal wall of the canal, interacting with the fluid moving through it. Whenever fluid moves through the canal, the tiny hairs signal to the brain that our body is in motion.

Let us say I tilt my head forward and backwards. This causes the fluid of the horizontal canal to move, which sends a signal to our brain and tells the brain that our body or head is moving forward. So, our main point of discussion is what happens when we spin.

What happens when we spin

When we spin ourselves, the fluid inside the semicircular canals of our inner ear also starts to move. These canals are responsible for sensing our body’s movements and balance. So, when we spin ourselves, the fluid moves in the same direction and tells our brain that our body is in a state of spinning motion.

However, when we suddenly stop ourselves, the fluid inside the canal is still spinning, which creates a conflicting message for our brain. Our brain thinks that our body is still spinning, even though we have stopped, and this causes the feeling of dizziness. This sensation can last for a few seconds or minutes until the fluid inside the canal stops moving and our brain adjusts to the new situation.

Keep reading: How to Cure Vertigo Permanently? These tips & exercises would help

Sunit. S. Ekka

Dr Sunit Sanjay Ekka is a physiotherapist in practice for the last 15 years. He has done his BPT from one of the premium Central Government physiotherapy colleges, ie, SVNIRTAR. The patient is his best teacher and whatever he gets to learn he loves to share it on his Youtube channel and blog.