Illustration of the inner ear showing several causes of vertigo. One cause is labyrinthitis, the inflammation of the labyrinth, which includes the fluid-filled semi-circular canals (lower centre) that are responsible for balance. Compression of the vestibulocochlear nerve (yellow), either by an acoustic neuroma (beige lump at upper centre), a benign (non-cancerous) growth, or an enlarged blood vessel (red), is another cause. Pressure within the inner ear (bulge in cochlea at centre right) can also cause vertigo as can diseases of the brainstem (top). An ear infection (puss around ear drum at lower right) can also temporarily cause vertigo.