Blast wave induced flows in semicircular canals

Dynamics of endolymph and cupula in a semicircular canal subject to high frequency oscillations imposed on the endolymph at the open section of the canal is investigated. Deformation of cupula inside the endolymph fluid is simulated numerically.A high frequency and high amplitude periodic oscillations may result in the formation of vortical motions inside the semicircular canals. The number of vortices increases with the oscillation frequency. As a result of asymmetry of the canal geometry, there is an asymmetry in the pressure variation across the cupula resulting in a net motion of cupula in a specific direction during each cycle. The motion of the cupula depends on the vibration amplitude and frequency.