Blood Supply of Inner Ear

Question 1

Basilar Artery

Answer 1

immediate source of blood flow to ear

Question 2

Main cochlear artery

Answer 2

spirals with cochlea

Question 3

Flow of Blood Supply

Answer 3

Blood flow does not run base to apex –> runs radially in short loops, blood flow to cochlea is determined by frequency

vertebral arteries
labyrinthine artery (enters cochlea)
spiral modialar artery
radiating arterioles (to strial vascularis, spiral ganglion and organ of corti/spiral limbus)
collecting venules 
spiral modialar vein
vein of cochlear aqeduct

Question 4

Limbus vessels

Answer 4

attach to tectorial membrane by capillary bed, center of modialis and extension of spiral ganglion (vessel of tympanic lip and vessel of limbus)

Question 5

Spiral modialar artery (SMA)

Answer 5

radiating arterioles in bone supply, vascular loops

Reissner’s membrane attaches to radiating arteriooles of vascular system of lateral wall

Question 6

Arteriovenuous shunt

Answer 6

collecting venules running inside scala tympani

large vessels run past vascular bed (stria vascularis) because shunt past bed smooth muscles regulate this–constrict arterial to increases resistance

by bypassing capillary bed, keep constant load on the heart to suit need of local tissue –> short loops potential to regulate blood flow depending on demand in cochlea