Auditory & Vestibular Systems Flashcards
What are hair bundles filled with?
β actin and are stiff rods
What do hair cells synapse onto?
β Auditory nerve fibre that projects to the brain
What do hair cells convert?
β Motion of stereocilia into release of neurotransmitter
β NT is converted into electrical activity
What is the extracellular matrix of the hair cells called?
βtectorial membrane
Where is the otoconial membrane?
β In the macula of the vestibular system
Where is the cupula?
β Cristae of vestibular system
How are stereocilia arranged?
β In bundles
What are stereocilia connected by?
β connectors
What are the 3 types of connectors?
β Top connector
β Shaft connector
β Ankle links
What connectors are important to transduction?
β tip links
What is the function of lateral link connectors?
β they hold the bundle of stereocilia together to allow it to move as a unit
What is the function of tip links?
β Tension in the tip links distorts the tip of the stereocilia mechanically
β distortion allows channels to open and close with cilia movement
β current flows proportionately
Describe how hair cells work
β Tip links open ion channels
β outside the stereocilia is a fluid called endolymph
β when tip links deform and pull on the top of the stereocilia they allow in a lot of K+
β endolymph is high in K+
β K+ influx depolarises the cell
β VGCC opens
β Ca2+ triggers neurotransmitter release at the synapse
β postsynaptic potential in nerve fibre triggers an action potential
When does depolarisation occur?
β When the hair bundle is pushed towards the tallest stereocilia
When does hyperpolarisation occur?
β When the hair bundle is pushed away from the tallest cilia
What system do fish and amphibians have?
β Lateral line system
What is the function of mechanoreceptors on fish?
β Provides information about movement through water or the direction and velocity of water flow
How do neuromasts function?
β Gelatinous cupula encases the hair bundle and moves in response to water motion
What is the inner ear formed from?
β Semicircular canals from the vestibular system
β Cochlea
Where do the afferent nerves come from?
β Vestibulocochlear nerve CN VIII
What is linear motion?
β Up, down
β left and right
β back and forwards
What is rotation?
β Rolling - shoulder to shoulder
β pitch - forwards and backwards
β yaw - side to side
What senses rotation?
β Semicircular canals
What is responsible for sensing roll?
β Posterior semicircular canal
What is responsible for sensing pitch?
β Anterior semicircular canal
What is responsible for sensing yaw?
β Horizontal semicircular canal
Where does the endolymph move?
β In the opposite direction to your head
What does rotation cause in the semicircular canals?
β Fluid motion
What are cilia connected to?
β Gelatinous cupula
Describe what happens in the cupula when motion occurs
β Fluid in the canals lags due to inertia pulling the cupula in the opposite direction to the rotation of the head
β cilia are displaced and depolarise hair cells
What is the ampulla?
β AN opening with receptors