Lecture 13: Vestibular System Flashcards
What is the peripheral receptor apparatus responsible for?
Transducing head motion/position in the inner ear
What is the central vestibular nuclei responsible for?
Integrating and distributing info that controls motor activities and spatial orientation in the brainstem
What is the vestibuloocular network responsible for?
Control of eye movements
What is the vestibulospinal network responsible for?
Coordinates head movements, axial musculature, and postural reflexes
What is the vestibulothalamocortical network responsible for?
Conscious perception of movement/spatial orientation
What is the function of semicircular canals?
Sense angular accelerations (via rotational head movements)
What are the three semicircular canals?
Horizontal
Anterior
Posterior
What is the function of the otolith organs?
Sense linear accelerations (via translational head movements)
What are two otolith organs and what do they specifically sense?
Utricle: Horizontal linear acceleration
Saccule: Vertical linear acceleration
What innervates receptor cells in vestibular organs?
Primary afferent fibers of Vestibular/Scarpa ganglion
Where do the vestibular pathways eventually terminate?
Ipsilateral vestibular nuclei and cerebellum
Where is perilymph located?
Between membranous and bony labyrinths
What is membranous labyrinth filled with?
Endolymph
What is endolymph “bathing?”
Auditory and vestibular systems
What does the movement of endolymph allow?
Responses in vestibular organs, either excitation or inhibition
What are the vestibular labyrinth organs?
Semicircular Canals
Otolith Organs
What supplies the labyrinth structures?
Labyrinthine Artery from AICA
Stylomastoid Artery
What can cause Meniere’s Disease?
Disruption (increase) of endolymph volume that can lead to endolymphatic hydrops, which is an abnormal distention of membranous labyrinth