Controlling the position of the body’s center of gravity, or maintenance of equilibrium while stationary (static balance) or moving (dynamic balance).
The act of staying upright, not falling.
The proportions of substances in a mixture, e.g. in the diet.
The ability to remain upright, maintain a position, or move without falling over. Balance depends on the complex interaction of body systems and organs, such as the ears, eyes, muscles, heart, brain, and nervous system. Information about balance is processed by the brain, which enables various parts of the body to perform the changes needed to maintain balance.
The ability to balance is essential for a person to stand, walk and run. Maintaining this ability is a complex exercise of coordination dependent on the brain, sensory and motor nerves, and joints. Nerves send a regular supply of information to the brain about the positions of various parts of the body, and it responds with relevant instructions to the motor parts of the body. Eyes, the inner ear, skin and muscles all provide information. The cerebellum (part of the brain) collates all the information and initiates action. Balance may be affected by disorders in the balancing mechanism of the inner EAR (semicircular canals) such as Meniere’s disease, and inflammation of the labyrinth (labyrinthitis). Infection of the middle ear, such as otitis media, can also disturb the ability to balance, sometimes accompanied by dizziness (vertigo). If the cerebellum is affected by disease a tumour or a stroke, for example the result will be faulty muscular coordination leading to clumsiness and the inability to walk properly.
Establishing equal or appropriate proportions to create symmetry. In hairstyling, it is the relationship of height to width.
Ingesting a sufficient quantity of every category of sustenance, while simultaneously avoiding overindulgence.
The capacity to maintain an upright posture and navigate without losing equilibrium is known as balance. This intricate process heavily depends on a continuous stream of information transmitted to the brain regarding the body’s position. By integrating and processing this information, along with ongoing instructions from the brain, the body is able to make the necessary adjustments to sustain balance.
The brain gathers information regarding body position from multiple sources, including the eyes, specialized sensory organs known as proprioceptors in the skin, muscles, and joints, as well as the three semicircular canals located in the inner ear’s labyrinth. This data is then processed by a specific region of the brain called the cerebellum, which analyzes and consolidates the information. Subsequently, the cerebellum issues instructions to the muscles, directing them to contract or relax in order to maintain balance.
Balance can be influenced by different disorders, with inner-ear conditions playing a significant role. Examples include labyrinthitis, which refers to inflammation of the ear’s labyrinth, and Ménière’s disease, characterized by an abnormal increase in fluid pressure within the labyrinth. Additionally, although less frequently, disturbances in balance can also occur due to otitis media, a condition affecting the middle ear.
Balance can also be compromised by damage to the nerve tracts within the spinal cord, responsible for transmitting information from the position sensors in the joints and muscles to the brain. Such nerve damage can arise from various causes, including spinal tumors, circulatory disorders, nerve degeneration resulting from vitamin B12 deficiency, or, rarely, a condition known as tabes dorsalis, which is a complication of syphilis. Furthermore, the impairment of muscular coordination, along with clumsiness in the arms and legs, can occur when a tumor or stroke affects the cerebellum in the brain.