Numerical simulation of membranous labyrinth in vestibular system of human inner ear by fluid-structural interaction method

In this paper, a three-dimensional element model of the membranous labyrinth in the vestibular system of human inner ear was reconstructed according to complete histological slides from the right temporal bones of a healthy person. The endolymph was modeled as incompressible Newtonian fluid and the crista ampullaris was represented by a linearly elastic solid undergoing large deformation. The fluid-structural interaction problem was solved with different rotation velocity excitations to simulate body turning and back looking of human. Consequently, the fluid fields of endolymph and the displacement fields of crista ampullaris for different rotation velocities were obtained respectively. The research results will contribute to quantitatively analyze the mechanical characteristics of fluid-structural interaction in the membranous labyrinth of vestibular system when human being excited by rotation velocity from the view of biomechanics, and they have provided a basis for thoroughly understanding the relationship between the anatomical structure of membranous labyrinth and the ability of human equilibrium, and for clinical diagnosis and treatment of relevant diseases of vestibular system.