In an industrial accident, a sharp fragment of metal entered the head of a worker and lodged in the bony area where the vestibular branch of the auditory nerve leaves the ear. In order to evaluate what nerve damage had been done, doctors blindfolded the worker and strapped him to a movable table.

Question

39. In reference to the above paragraph, the table to which the worker was strapped was first in the horizontal position, then in the upright vertical position, and finally in an upside down vertical position. The table was moved in a circular pattern followed by a forward and backward motion. Although the worker had a sense that he was being moved and could tell when the table was being turned in a circle rather than forward or backward, he could not tell the doctors if the table was standing vertically right side up, vertically upside down, or horizontal. Evaluate the possibility of damage to the following.

a.