The vestibular system detects the static position of the head with respect to gravity, and two types of head movements: linear acceleration in a particular direction and angular (rotational) acceleration. This information is the key to maintaining balance and for controlling eye movements to compensate for movement of the head. The receptors that are responsible for detecting head position and the various types of movement are located in the vestibular labyrinth in the middle ear. Information from the receptors is conveyed to the brain via the vestibular component of the eighth nerve. In what follows, we first consider the mechanoelectrical transduction system in the vestibular labyrinth and then the central pathways that mediate vestibular function.