The Relations of the Individual Ampullæ of the Semicircular Canals to the Individual Eye Muscles

1. The reflex effect of direct mechanical stimulation of the exposed ampulla of the horizontal canal has been graphically recorded for each of the six extrinsic muscles of the eyeball. 2. Stimulation of a horizontal ampulla evokes a strong contraction of the homolateral rectus internus and of the contralateral rectus externus; at the same time the homolateral rectus externus and the contralateral rectus internus relax. 3. A single mechanical stimulus applied to the horizontal ampulla is sometimes followed by a nystagmus resulting from a series of rhythmic contractions of the externus and internus muscles. 4. Excitation of a horizontal ampulla gives rise to weak contractions of the superior and inferior recti and of the two oblique muscles of both eyes, simultaneously with the stronger contractions of the externus and internus respectively. 5. It is pointed out that the small simultaneous contractions of the four muscles just mentioned provide a virtual axis upon which the eyeball rotates. In other words these four act as fixation muscles. 6. It is suggested that some of the abnormal responses to horizontal rotation, seen in clinical cases, are due to the inaction of one or more of the fixation muscles.