Validation of assumptions on the endolymph motion inside the semicircular canals of the inner ear

Abstract

In this work we investigate the validity of the following assumptions that were used in previous studies of the endolymph motion within the semicircular canals of the inner ear: (a) quasi-steadiness and therefore exclusion of the time derivative, (b) absence of advection, (c) insignicance of Coriolis and centrifugal forces. A parameter study is performed using the C++ based OpenFOAM® software library for nu- merical simulations on a nite volume grid. For validation purposes, the solutions are compared with results from the method of fundamental solutions to compute the ow in a quasi-steady Stokes flow regime. We conclude that the assumptions are valid for a standard head maneuver.