Auditory & Vestibular Systems Flashcards
What are the two divisions of CN VIII and what are their functions?
Cochlear - sound
Vestibular - head position and movement
Both divisions of CN VIII innervate highly specialized organs with mechanoreceptors called ___ ___ that sense different mechanical stimuli.
hair cells
Where are auditory and vestibular receptors located?
In the walls of membranous inner ear structures embedded in the temporal bone, suspended in a bony tube
What CN innervated auditory and vestibular receptors?
CN VIII
The ___ labyrinth contains the ___ is coiled and extends into an enlarged ___ that has 2 ___ canals attached.
bony; cochlea; vestibule; semicircular
What is the tube that is suspended in and follows the contours of the bony labyrinth?
membranous labyrinth
What parts of the membranous labyrinth are enclosed in the cochlea and semicircular canal?
cochlear duct is in the cochlea
semicircular duct is in each semicircular canal
What are the two vestibule enlargements of the membranous labyrinth?
utricle and saccule
T/F. The saccule is attached to the semicircular ducts.
False, the utricle is attached to the semicircular ducts. The saccule is connected to the cochlear duct and utricle.
What does perilymph fill?
the bony labyrinth
Perilymph is similar in composition to ___ and is continuous with ___ space thru the cochlear ___.
CSF; subarachnoid; aqueduct
___ fills the membranous labyrinth and is similar in compostion to ___ fluid.
Endolymph; intracellular (potassium-rich/sodium poor)
T/F. Endolymph is closed off from the outside but all parts of the membranous labyrinth communicate with each other.
True.
What is the function of the tight junctions in hair cells?
Tight junctions in hair cells (and other cells)
- keep perilymph and endolymph separate
- establishes voltage and concentration gradients needed for transduction
What produces endolymph? How is it resorbed?
produced by specialized cells in the cochlea
Resorbed in endolymphatic sac
Obstruction of flow results in swelling of which labyrinth?
membranous
A patient presents with transient attacks of vertigo, nausea, hearing loss and tinnitus (ear ringing). The cause is unknown and likely multiple. What condition is this?
Ménière’s disease
T/F. Hair cells are auditory and vestibular receptor cells.
True.
Hair cells are named for specialized ___ that project into ___ at one end of cell and the other end has processes of CN ___.
microvilli; endolymph; VIII
Hair cell microvilli are also known as what?
stereocillia
How are stereocillia arranged?
in graduated rows with the tallest toward one side
Where do you find kinocilium? Where are they not found?
Kinocilium are near tallest stereocillia in semicircular ducts, utricle, and saccule.
Cochlear hair cells lack kinocillia.
T/F. Hair cells are grouped into 5 discrete areas.
False, it’s 6.
What are the tips of kinocilum and the tallest stereocillia embedded in?
specialized mass of gelatinous material
How is the receptor potential transduced?
movement of gelatinous mass relative to hair cells cause deflection of sterocillia
In the organ of corti, the labyrinth part of the ___, the gelantinous material is the ___ ___ and the stimulus tranduced is ___.
Cochlea; tectorial membrane; sound
In the cristae, the labyrinth part of the ___ ___, the gelantinous material is the ___ and the stimulus transduced is ___ acceleration.
semicircular ducts; cupula; angular
In the maculae, the labyrinth part of the ___ and ___, the gelatinous material is the ___ membrane and the stimulus transduced is ___ acceleration.
utricle; saccule; otolithic; linear
T/F. Hair cells are mechanosensitive.
True.
T/F. Deflection towards the tallest stereocillia depolarizes hair cells.
True
Deflection away from the tallest stereocillia ___ hair cells.
hyperpolarizes
What happens if the hair cells are deflected in a perpendicular plane?
It has no effect, no receptor potential results
T/F. The outer and inner ear convey airborne sound vibrations to fluid-filled inner ear.
True.
What moves perilymph?
stapes
T/F. The tympanic membrane is 15X the size of stapes so stapes vibrations have less force/unit area.
False, they have more force/unit area.
How is the sound of ones own voice blocked?
The Stapedius pulls stapes away from oval window of the cochlea, stiffening the ossicular chain.
The ___ pulls stapes away from ___ window of the cochlea, stiffening the ___ chain. This in innervated by CN ___.
Stapedius; oval; ossicular; VII
How is the sound of chewing blocked?
Tensor tympani pulls the malleus in toward the middle ear, stiffening the ossicular chain.
___ ___ pulls the malleus in toward the middle ear, stiffening the ___ chain. This is innervated by CN ___.
Tensor tympani; ossicular;V
What does spasm of the stapedius cause?
Spasm can cause clicking sound when speaking
What does spasm of the tensor tympani cause?
Spasm cause tinnitus at low frequency
What is a perilymphatic space, continuous with vestibule?
Scala vestibuli