Water Hammer impact on the internal ear in the pathogenesis of Méniére's disease

Abstract

This paper proposes the hypothesis that the endolymphatic sac acts as a shock absorber of the water hammer Impacts generated in the internal ear in response to decreases of acceleration in the laberynthine fluids during motion changes or sudden stops. If the shock absorber does not meet the required conditions for proper functioning (lack of volumetric capacity, inadequate orientation) the impacts cause repeated trauma on the neurosensorial elements that might be the chronic, recurrent and progressive origin of Méniere's disease. The experimental procedure with a model of internal ear is explained and the implications of this hypothesis for both Méniere's disease and Hakim's normotense hydrocephalus are discussed