Auditory Tracts Flashcards
1
Q
- Primary afferents carrying auditory information to the brain come from which cranial nerve? Which part?
- Where do they enter the brainstem?
- Where do these primary afferents synapse
A
- VIII (Vestibulocochlear)-Specifically the cochlear part
- Enter brainstem @ pontomedullary junction
- Primary afferents descend or ascend to synapse on ventral or dorsal cochlear nuclei in the brainstem
2
Q
- What is the function of the dorsal cochlear nucleus?
- It is part of what auditory tract?
A
- Receives primary afferent fibers containing information on:
- Identifying sound source elevation
- Identifying complex spectral characteristics of sounds
- Monaural (Dorsal and Monaural both have an O)
3
Q
- What is the function of the ventral cochlear nucleus?
- It is part of what auditory tract?
A
- Receives primary afferent fibers from the cochlear portion of CN VII
- Horizontal localization of sound
- Anterior and posterior subdivisions (see physio)
- Binaural
4
Q
- Describe the monaural tract
A
- Primary afferents from cochlear portion of CN VIII travel to the dorsal cochlear nucleus where they will synapse
- FIbers then CROSS and ascend in the lateral lemniscus
- These fibers will synapse on the inferior colliculi
- Axons from the inferior colliculi will travel through the brachium of the inferior colliculi to the medial geniculate nucleus (remember SLIM mnemonic for superior and inferior colliculi)
- Fibers from MGN will ascend thru the sublenticular limb of the internal capsule and travel to the primary auditory cortex
5
Q
- Describe the binaural tract
A
- Primary afferent fibers of cochlear portion of CN VIII synapse in ventral cochlear nucleus
- Axons project BILATERALLY by passing thru the trapezoid body to the superior olivary complex (pons)
- Cell bodies from medial and lateral olivary nucleus ascend in lateral lemniscus to the inferior colliculus
- Axons from inferior colliculus will travel through the brachium of the inferior colliculus to the MGN (medial geniculate nucleus) of the thalamus
- Axons from MGN will travel through SUBLENTICULAR LIMB of the internal capsule and synapse on cells of primary auditory cortex
6
Q
- What layer of the primary auditory cortex do cells from the MGN synapse in?
- What is another name for the primary auditory cortex?
A
- Layer IV
- Heschl’s gyrus
7
Q
- What are two rules to consider when discussing monaural and binaural auditory tracts?
A
- All nerve fibers from cochlea will synapse in one of the cochlear nuclei (ventral or dorsal or both)
- Fibers in brainstem cross multiple times
- ALL fibers will synapse in the following areas
- Inferior colliculus
- MGN
- Primary Auditory Cortex
8
Q
- Lesions that occur in the brainstem and damage the vestibulocochlear n will or will not cause deafness?
A
- Will not.
- Fibers cross too many times at that point
- Will have issues localizing sounds but will still be able to hear
9
Q
- Where are three places that auditory nerve fibers cross?
A
- Trapezoid body (between medial and lateral superior olivary nuclei)
- Lateral lemniscus
- Brachium of inferior colliculus
10
Q
- Conduction deafness versus
- Sensorineural deafness versus
- Central deafness
A
-
Conduction deafness
- Problems with external or middle ear
- Can’t conduct sound from the outside world into the inner ear
- Transformation of sound to the tympanic membrane or thu ossicle chain
-
Sensorineural (Nerve) deafness
- Damage to cochlea
- Damage to cochlear part of CN VII or cochlear nuclei
- Ipsilateral nerve deafness (fibers have not crossed yet)
-
Central
- Damage to the central pathways (aka areas in the brainstem)
11
Q
- What does the basilar a. supply?
A
- Cochlear
- Auditory nuclei of pons and medulla
12
Q
- What does the labyrinthe (internal auditory) a. supply?
- What is it a branch of?
A
- Branch of AICA
- Supplies inner ear and cochlear nuclei (esp in medulla)
13
Q
- What happens if there is an occlusion of the AICA
A
- Monaural hearing loss (supplying cochlear nuclei in medulla before they have had the opportunity to cross?)
- Can also damage facial nerve (Bell’s Palsy-ipsilateral facial paralysis) and pontine gaze center (inability to look towards side of lesion)
14
Q
- What do short circumferential branches of the basilar a supply?
A
- Superior olivary complex
- Lateral lemniscus
15
Q
- What do the superior cerebellar and quadrigeminal a’s supply?
A
- Inferior colliculus