Auditory and Vestibule Pathways Flashcards
CN VIII enters the brain as 2 roots where?
At the junction of the pons and medulla
Pontomedullary junction
Medial root = vestibular root
Lateral root = auditory root
CN VIII exits the _______ cranial fossa and enters the _________ portion of the temporal bone via the _________.
Posterior Cranial Fossa
Petrous
Internal acoustic meatus
Schwannoma typically occur at which root of CN VIII
Vestibular part
What is in the petrous portion of the temporal lobe?
Labyrinth
Special organs of hearing and balance
CN VIII has 3 sensory ganglia containing bipolar neurons. What are they?
Spiral ganglion: bipolar neurons for hearing (in cochlea)
Inferior nad superior vestibular ganglia - bipolar nuerons that carry information from the vestibular portion
1st order neurons
The bipolar cells from the 2 vestibular ganglion project to?
Cerebllum (only sensory nerve in which it recieves direct afferents) and 4th vestibular nuclei (2nd order nueron)
The vestibular ganglion projections go to which two parts of the cerebellum?
- Flocculonodular lobe - oldest part of the cerebellum/balance and eye movement
- Vermis - central part of the cerebellum
What are the 4 vestibular nuclei?
- Lateral
- Medial
- Superior
- Inferior (descending)
Located in the rostral medulla/caudal pons (floor of the 4th ventricle around pontomedullary junction)
The Superior Vestibular nucleus is part of which tract?
Ipsilateral acending MLF
MLF interconnects the motor nuclei that control eye movement
The Medial Vestibular nucleus is part of which tract?
MLF and medial vestibulospinal tract
The medial vestibulospinal tract is a descending tract that controls movements for extension of the neck and head movement
The lateral vestibular nucleus is part of which tract?
Lateral Vestibulospinal tract
This a descending tract, contol excitation of antigravity muscles (what causes extension of our paraspinal muscles and limbs
Identify the nuclei in this image
Red: Superior Vestibular nucleus
Orange: Medial Vestibular nucleus
Green: lateral vestibular nucleus
Image slice form caudal pons
What are the vestibular outputs that essential control balance/gaze and posture?
- Extraocular motor nuclei via MLF (CN 3, 4, and 6)
- Cerebellum (reciprocal connection): recieve direct afferent and also second order input from vestibular nuclei
- Ventral posterior nucleus of thalamus - where the second order nuerons terminate (to post central gyrus )
- Reticular formation - forms the core of the medulla, pons, and the brain. Meshwork of connections
- Spinal Cord - spinal pathways
The extraocular motor nuclei via the MLF are involved in? Which two nuclei are involved?
Involved in horizantal gaze, lateral movements, and nystagmus
Medial vestibular nucleus and superior vestibular nucleus are involved
In this brainstem cut which cranial nerve is projecting to the MLF?
This is a image of the pons. CN VI is projecting to the MLF
In this brainstem cut which cranial nerve is projecting to the MLF?
This is a image of the midbrain
CN III is projecting to the MLF
Explain the VEstibulo-Ocular Reflex
Two neuron in the abducens nucleus. One is a motor that go to lateral rectus. There are a bunch of interneurons that receive the same input as the motor neurons. Interneurons will project to the oculomotor through the medial longitudinal fasciculus pathways
When the motor neurons of lateral rectus get engaged the motor neurons sitting right next door get excited and they project to the opposite side. The contralateral motor nucleus (MLF). So motor neuron controlling medial rectus get the same excitatory input.
This will cause the eyes to both look into the same direction (lateral gaze)
What are the steps involved in the Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex (VOR)?
- Endolymph flow stimulates hair cells (right)
- Increase nerve firing rate
- Simulates vestibular nuclei (projections to VI and III nuclei)
- Both eyes look left
Nystagmus (fast movement of the eye) occurs after the body realizes that the eyes are no longer looking forward.
When you turn your head to the left what happenes to the activity in the left vestibular nucleus?
It decreases
(eyes move in the opposite direction of increased activity)
Correction of eye gaze (Nystagmus) is done by what?
The cortex
What is Caloric Stimulation?
This test is performed on patients who are in coma to test their state of consciousness.
Warm Water (Right ear)
Increase firing in Right vestibular nucleus -> eyes look to the leff (opposite of stimulus) -> Nystagmus in the same direction of stimulus
Cold Water (Right Ear)
Decrease firising of Right Vestibular nucleas -> eyes move to the right (same direction as stimulus) -> Nystagmus to to the left (opposite of stimulus)
Lesion in the vestibular nuclei?
This is the same as having decrease firing of nucleus. Nystagmus will occur in the oppostie direction of the lesion