52 Neuroanatomy: Vestibular System

Question 1

Anatomical Components

• Where are the sensory receptors of the Vestibular System?
  
  • What detects linear acceleration?
  • What detects angular acceleration?

Answer 1

Question 2

Caloric Test

• What is this a test for?
• What is the mnemonic?
• What happens with cold water and:
  
  • an intact brainstem
  • MLF bilateral lesion
  • Low brainstem lesion
• What happens with warm water and:
  
  • an intact brainstem
  • MLF bilateral lesion
  • Low brainstem lesion

Answer 2

Question 3

Vestibular Ganglion aka Scarpa’s Ganglion

• What cranial nerve is associated with this?
  
  • Where do peripheral processes do?
  • Where do central processes travel to?

Answer 3

Question 4

Central Vestibular Nuclei

• What are the 4 vestibular nuclei that are located in the medulla and caudal plans?
  
  • Where do afferents from the ampullae terminate?
  • Where do afferents from the maculae terminate?
  • Where do some afferents from the saccule terminate?

Answer 4

Question 5

Cerebellar Connections

• What is the only sensory organ in the body that sends direct primary afferents to the cerebellum?
  
  • What path do these take before terminating as mossy fibers in the nodulus and flocculus?
• Where do ALL 4 vestibular nuclei send secondary afferents to? (3)
• The cerebellum forms reciprocal connections with the vestibular nuclei. What movements are these important for?

Answer 5

Question 6

Commissural Connections

• Where are the arise from?
  
  • Where are they most prominent?
• What kind of information do they provide?
• Why are they important after an injury?

Answer 6

Question 7

Vestibbuloccular Network

• Vestibbuloccular Reflex
  
  • What does this reflex do?
  • Why would it be repressed?
  • Rotational Vestibbuloccular Reflex
    
    • What are vertical eye movements controlled by?
    • What are horizontal eye movements controlled by?
    • What are torsional eye movements controlled by?

Answer 7