Kinematics nomenclature for physiological accelerations with special reference to vestibular applications

Abstract : A mathematical nomenclature in the language of kinematics was formulated to provide precise, man-referenced identifications of the real accelerations comprising the basic vestibular stimuli and of certain selected vestibular response measures. The system is based on establishing anatomical landmarks in the form of three mutually orthogonal cardinal head axes and planes to which the magnitude and direction characteristics of both the acceleration stimuli and the vestibular responses can be referenced. Notation is provided to describe separately the resultant linear acceleration and the resultant angular acceleration arising in any force environment in terms of their components acting along and about, respectively, the three cardinal axes. The notation and application format of the nomenclature has application in the general acceleration physiology field as well as the vestibular area.