Equilibrium - what is it?

Throughout species evolution, the human being has obtained together with some other superior primates, certain features which differentiate men from some others, one of them is that of walking straight on the legs, i.e. being bipedestrian.

The brain is in charge of achieving this characteristic as well as being specifically the equilibrium center placed at the brainstem, which position within the skull is near the neck area.

The equilibrium center must receive information from the environment in order to be able to establish which particular position the body must assume. To this end, it uses information coming from:

Eyes	Visual Information
Ears	Vestibular and Auditory Information
Articulations	Proprioceptive Information

The eyes indicate position of the visual horizon, that is to say, relationship between the body and the floor. Thus, it is possible to know whether it is an inclined plane, an abysm, etc.

Ears in their vestibular portion, register the different lineal and rotatory accelerations and deaccelerations, to which men are daily exposed. In their auditory portion, the ears register a sound in order to support the suitable position in line with the origin of the registered sound.

Articulations detect deep tactile sensations depending on the position where they are located.

Eyes, ears and articulations (peripherical sensorial organs) send their respective information to the equilibrium center by which it is processed and which is able to give a right answer or one of perfect equilibrium.