Motion sickness pathophysiology: Difference between revisions
| (4 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
==Pathophysiology== | ==Pathophysiology== | ||
Motion sickness on the [[sea]] can result from being in the [[berth]] of a rolling boat without being able to see the [[horizon]]. Sudden jerky movements tend to be worse for provoking motion sickness than slower smooth ones, because they disrupt the fluid balance more. A "corkscrewing" boat will upset more people than one that is gliding smoothly across the oncoming waves. Cars driving rapidly around winding roads or up and down a series of hills will upset more people than cars that are moving over smooth, straight roads. Looking down into one's lap to consult a map or attempting to read a book while a passenger in a car may also bring on motion sickness. | Motion sickness on the [[sea]] can result from being in the [[berth]] of a rolling boat without being able to see the [[horizon]]. Sudden jerky movements tend to be worse for provoking motion sickness than slower smooth ones, because they disrupt the fluid balance more. A "corkscrewing" boat will upset more people than one that is gliding smoothly across the oncoming waves. Cars driving rapidly around winding roads or up and down a series of hills will upset more people than cars that are moving over smooth, straight roads. Looking down into one's lap to consult a map or attempting to read a book while a passenger in a car may also bring on motion sickness. | ||
The most common hypothesis for the cause of motion sickness is that it evolved as a defense mechanism against [[neurotoxin]]s.<ref name="GMO">[http://www.brooksidepress.org/Products/OperationalMedicine/DATA/operationalmed/Manuals/GMOManual/clinical/Motion%20sickness.html General Medical Officer (GMO) Manual: Clinical Section: Motion Sickness]</ref> The [[area postrema]] in the [[human brain|brain]] is responsible for inducing vomiting when poisons are detected, and for resolving conflicts between vision and balance. When feeling motion but not seeing it (for example, in a ship with no windows), the [[inner ear]] transmits to the brain that it senses motion, but the eyes tell the brain that everything is still. As a result of the disconcordance, the brain will come to the conclusion that one of them is [[hallucinating]] and further conclude that the hallucination is due to poison ingestion. The [[brain]] responds by inducing vomiting, to clear the supposed toxin. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 9: | Line 11: | ||
{{WH}} | {{WH}} | ||
{{WS}} | {{WS}} | ||
[[Category:Disease]] | [[Category:Disease]] | ||
[[Category:Neurology]] | [[Category:Neurology]] | ||
[[Category:Emergency medicine]] | [[Category:Emergency medicine]] | ||
[[Category:Needs overview]] | |||
Latest revision as of 14:14, 18 March 2013
|
Motion sickness Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Motion sickness pathophysiology On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Motion sickness pathophysiology |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Motion sickness pathophysiology |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vishnu Vardhan Serla M.B.B.S. [2]
Pathophysiology
Motion sickness on the sea can result from being in the berth of a rolling boat without being able to see the horizon. Sudden jerky movements tend to be worse for provoking motion sickness than slower smooth ones, because they disrupt the fluid balance more. A "corkscrewing" boat will upset more people than one that is gliding smoothly across the oncoming waves. Cars driving rapidly around winding roads or up and down a series of hills will upset more people than cars that are moving over smooth, straight roads. Looking down into one's lap to consult a map or attempting to read a book while a passenger in a car may also bring on motion sickness.
The most common hypothesis for the cause of motion sickness is that it evolved as a defense mechanism against neurotoxins.[1] The area postrema in the brain is responsible for inducing vomiting when poisons are detected, and for resolving conflicts between vision and balance. When feeling motion but not seeing it (for example, in a ship with no windows), the inner ear transmits to the brain that it senses motion, but the eyes tell the brain that everything is still. As a result of the disconcordance, the brain will come to the conclusion that one of them is hallucinating and further conclude that the hallucination is due to poison ingestion. The brain responds by inducing vomiting, to clear the supposed toxin.